ISSUE NO. 1638
24 - 30 Nov 2016
Stop Press
AXARQUÍA - COSTA TROPICAL YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION DON’T MISS OUR PROPERTY SPECIAL INSIDE! PAGES 23 - 35
Fugitive gunrunner finally captured
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Law and order BADDIES in Nerja better watch out. The Local Police chief has announced a ‘quantum leap’ in the operational capacity of his squadron as more troops are set to join the force in 2017. Staff numbers will leap from 38-45, with three being full-blooded lawmen. See page 2
Bandit bombshell TWO more banks have been targeted by thieves using highly explosive gas in a bid to blast open cash machines in Estepona. The incidents mean the arrests carried out
by police earlier this month did not catch every member of the gang suspected of involvement or another outfit is operating. See page 4
In disguise ACTING jointly, officers from the Guardia Civil and National Police have arrested nine related Iranians (four women and five men) in Benidorm who
have been stealing goods, mainly from tourists, whilst masquerading as police officers. See page 5
Guacamole group THE National Police have arrested seven men, including one minor, in Velez-Malaga accused of stealing 2,401 kilos of avocados. The group had previous police records for theft of citrus fruit in the Levante area and mangos and avocados in the Axarquia and Costa Tropical. See page 7
by Matthew Elliott After months on the run a fugitive linked to a sophisticated weapons-trafficking gang has been arrested in Motril. The career criminal, with a lengthy police record, is accused of illegally possessing firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition. The story began in February when a narcotics and arms dealing organisation was busted by National Police officers in various localities across Granada province. They uncovered thousands of bullets, six handguns and even an AK-47 assault rifle. Bulletproof vests, mock police uniforms, flashing police lights, anabolic steroids and almost £50,000 were also seized.
The criminal group was chiefly involved in the shipment of cocaine to Israel through couriers, and in the selling of artwork and luxury vehicles on underground markets across Europe and Africa. Acting on intelligence, police raided two further properties and discovered 600 marihuana plants and more weaponry, arresting a dozen suspects in the process. One, however, managed to escape the net and eluded capture until
this week. It took a huge intelligence operation by police to eventually secure their man. Agents painstakingly put together a picture of the syndicate’s chain of command, safe houses and modus operandi. They eventually discovered a hidden cache in the air vents of a public car park in Malaga City, with 1,000 bullets, a revolver and six hand guns. Following several months of investigations regarding the
Murky waters origin of the weapons, detectives now appear to have got their man.
SPAIN faces astronomical European Union (EU) sanctions of ‘at least’ €46.5 million after failing to provide wastewater treatment for 17 towns and villages, several of which are located on the Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical. See page 8