ISSUE NO. 1667
15 - 21 June 2017
A XARQUÍA - C OSTA T ROPICAL
YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION
WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
Down in the dumps 12 arrested over €2.5 million scam
CAVE RAGE: The paintings were a cultural artefact.
Vandals wreck cavern
TOXIC: Detectives pick through the devastation. By Sally Underwood Officers from the Guardia Civil have arrested 12 people, are investigating 25 others and have confiscated 170 items worth millions of euros over an illegal dumping ground in Nerja’s Rio de la Miel. It comes after investigators in charge of the probe, which began in August last year, concluded there may be a €2.5 million case for fraud to cover the costs that would have been incurred if the waste had been disposed of legally. As reported in issue 1666 of the Euro Weekly News, the site is located in the National Park of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama near Nerja, and was previously a working quarry owned by the council. The area was later exploited unlawfully as a dumping ground for 16 years, between 2000 and September 2016. The Public Prosecutor ’s Office has labelled the landfill “a genuine environmental disaster” and has been investigating the matter following
complaints filed by the Association of Construction and Demolition Waste Management Companies of Andalucia (AGRECA) and by the Spanish Federation of Associations of Construction Waste Management Companies and Demolition, for illegal and uncontrolled dumping of construction and demolition waste, hazardous waste, pruning waste as well as vegetation and plastics. So far it has been discovered the site was used and managed by a group of companies in Nerja’s construction sector in breach of council rules. These companies were engaged in major collection and transportation of construction and demolition waste, including hazardous wastes, which were subse-
quently dumped at the illegal landfill site. The police believe those responsible were aware this was illegal and knew about authorised sites in the area. They say the fraudsters even issued certificates to customers guaranteeing the waste had been disposed of legally. The site poses an environmental risk to the surrounding area, which is protected under environmental law, with hazards such as fire due to gases produced from the waste, some of which are flammable and at risk of self-combustion. Humans are also at risk from the site, which has been running without any controls. Investigators say they are also concerned about possible contamination of fluids into
the groundwater. Police have detained 12 on charges of alleged crimes against the environment and natural resources, documentary falsification, fraud, membership of a criminal group and environmental crimes. They are continuing to investigate another 25 people, as well as 11 legal entities. It is believed it could cost up to €10,700,000 to clear up the site.
A POLICE probe has been launched after a caving team from Spanish TV channel Cuatro discovered furniture and graffiti in the Cueva de la Victoria (Victoria’s Cave) in Rincon de la Victoria. It comes after the long-running show Cuarto Milenio (Fourth Millenium), which explores themes of mystery and the unknown, chose to explore the adjoining Cueva del Tesoro (Cave of Treasure) for its next series. Accompanied by councillor Antonio Jose Martin, the group were shocked to find evidence that squatters have invaded the protected space, which lies within Rincon’s Archaeological Park, while someone had daubed graffiti over a series of ancient cave paintings which are protected by law. While opposition parties immediately claimed that photos apparently taken by Martin are ‘archival,’ the incumbent Popular Party insists that they are genuine, and that the previous council is to blame since “people drinking in the caves at the weekend is hardly a new issue.”