ISSUE NO. 1630
29 Sept - 5 Oct 2016
COSTA DEL SOL
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Top cop jailed
By Matthew Elliott The former head of the Guardia Civil’s anti-narcotics unit has been jailed for 10 years for his part in a drug trafficking operation that saw sentences of more than 100 years and fines totalling €53 million handed to the 27 defendants convicted. More than 35 peope, including many former public officials, went on trial in proceedings that began nearly a year ago and ended with a damning 299-page judgement. Lieutenant Valentin Fernandez, who led the Costa
del Sol’s efforts to combat organised crime and drugs, was found guilty of collaborating with drug traffickers, and helping to coordinate an operation to ship more than two tonnes of hashish to Marbella’s Cabopino beach in 2010. His involvement was uncovered by officers from the Special Response Group for Organised Crime on the Costa del Sol (GRECO), an elite team comprised of plainclothed officers, who were investigating a French outfit operating in southern Spain. The trial ended with a list of offences ranging from the
disclosure of secrets, conspiracy, embezzlement, drug trafficking and money laundering to bribery. Considering the scope of his crimes and manipulation of his officers, prosecutors had demanded a 55-year sentence for the lieutenant, who has the opportunity to appeal the verdict at the Supreme Court. Among the accused was Manuel Alonso who was suspected of murdering his exwife Lucia Garrido. She was mysteriously found floating in the pool of his Los Naranjos estate in Alhaurin de la Torre.
Alonso, who was also investigated for shooting dead two masked Colombian hitmen at the same property, was joined by former Malaga FC footballer Jose AL. Both had been charged with orchestrating hashish shipments from Melilla to Marbella.