Fake Spanish police drugs gang busted

A GANG who dressed up as Guardia Civil officers and armed themselves with an automatic weapon in order to rob fellow criminals has been arrested.
According to police sources the gang members were extremely dangerous.
Guardia Civil launched a special operation to break up the crime syndicate that specialised in stealing drugs from other gangs by impersonating police officers.
Dressed in official Guardia Civil high-visibility vests complete with ID badges they would pretend to be carrying out official raids, particularly on marihuana plantations.
Once on the premises they would turn violent before disappearing with the illicit drugs.
Murcia Guardia Civil in a joint operation with the Team Against Organised Crime (ECO) of Levante, has now broken up the crime ring.
Eight people have been arrested in five raids in Alguazas, Mazarron, El Esparragal-Murcia, San Isidro de Albatera and Orihuela.
They have been accused of drug dealing, robbery with violence and intimidation, illegal possession of firearms, impersonating police officers and belonging to a criminal organisation.
During the raids 5,500 ecstasy tablets, 100 cannabis plants, 17 kilos of marihuana buds, several doses of hashish and cocaine were seized along with three firearms with ammunition, two Taser guns, two vehicles and €15,000 in cash.
Police also found Guardia Civil uniforms and badges.
The investigation started when a house in El Esparragal-Murcia, was robbed by several armed individuals.
Witnesses pointed Local Police in the direction of a car involved in the incident.
This was traced to Murcia and the driver – a 29-year-old Romanian – was arrested. Six kilos of marihuana buds were found in the car.
On closer inspection police found a false compartment in an armrest where a semi automatic weapon with silencer and other guns were hidden.
There were also five Guardia Civil fluorescent vests and identifying badges for the judicial police.
Further investigations led police on a series of raids where further arrests were made and more drugs found.
A Murcia court has remanded two of those arrested in custody while investigations continue.