Full details on pages 14-15
ISSUE NO. 1650
16 - 22 February 2017
A XARQUÍA - C OSTA T ROPICAL
YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION
WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
Phantom photo A COUNCILLOR claims a ghost has taken up residence in a Granada council building after an apparition appeared in a photo taken by a member of staff. Reports have surfaced that the mayor, Leandro Martin, has since paid a medium to cleanse the building. See page 3
HUGE HAUL: In addition to the drugs, seized items included vehicles, weapons, a computer and mobile phones.
Photo by Guardia Civil
Hash gang smashed Massive drugs haul seized in raids By Simon Firth Fifteen people have been arrested in a major crackdown on a drug smuggling gang who used high-powered boats to bring massive amounts of hashish into Spain. The haul by the Guardia Civil and agents from the Agencia Tributaria, was one of the biggest seized in one operation at more than 2,700 kilos. Police believe they have all the members of the gang in custody including the man suspected of being the ringleader and directing its operations. Those in custody are Spanish and Moroccan, according to the Guardia Civil. In raids carried out in
Granada, Malaga and Cadiz, as part of Operation Rebound, police units seized five highspeed semi-rigid boats.
As part of Operation Rebound, police raided a number of homes and industrial units. Each is some 12 metres long and powered by high performance engines capable of outrunning most other boats. The five craft whose total value is more than €600,000, were used to take the drug consignments to isolated Spanish beaches. After being brought to the beach, the boats were loaded
onto lorries and taken away from the scene. The hashish was then taken to be stored on a boat harboured at Motril. Later it was made ready for transportation around Spain. The gang were also responsible for supplying drug dealers in France and Holland. Among the vehicles seized by police were seven cars and two SUVs. Some had been specially adapted and fitted with false compartments underneath in order to store the drugs. As part of Operation Rebound, police raided a number of homes and industrial units. Several were in different parts of Granada and were used to hide the boats and house the trucks which trans-
ported them. In addition to the vehicles, they seized a large amount of documentation, a computer, mobile phones and phone cards. A number of weapons found at the scene were discovered to be replicas. The investigation into the group began in November when hash was seized as it was being brought ashore at a beach near Motril.
Designer drainage WORK is underway to eliminate flooding in the La Paloma area of Almuñecar. The project, which is costing €1.5 million and is estimated to take nine months, has begun with the in-
stallation of pipeline that drains into the Rio Verde. The project will mostly affect Avenida Suspiro del Moro, which gives access to the neighbourhood. See page 6
Lively luvvies A PETITION that has gathered over 5,000 signatures is demanding Velez-Malaga’s theatre, Lope de Vega, be restored. Local businessmen have formed a group, pressuring the city’s council to start works on
the building, which was acquired for €500,000 in 2014. The group handed its petition to the town hall last week, asking the city’s tripartite government to get to work. See page 7
Win a Car! YOU CAN STILL BE THE WINNER OF A CAR! SEE PAGES 2, 8 - 9