BUSTED: Costa Del Sol Drug Ring Based In Fuengirola With UK Connections Dismantled

THE Guardia Civil has arrested 5 people of British nationality and seized 3 tons of hashish.

As Euro Weekly News has been informed, the Guardia Civil has dismantled a criminal organisation dedicated to the introduction of large quantities of hashish into Spain through the Fuengirola port. From there, the drugs were transferred to the United Kingdom.

Operation Azariel has seen five members of the network arrested, including those responsible for the organisation and those in charge of managing the logistics and distribution of the narcotic substances.

They have been charged with the alleged crimes of drug trafficking, membership of a criminal organisation and smuggling of tobacco, explained the Guardia Civil in a statement.

The operation began after tip off from the Operational Service Center (COS) in Malaga that a pneumatic boat occupied by two individuals was transferring numerous bales of hashish to a recreational craft under British flag.

Once alerted, the components of the Provincial Maritime Service moved to the indicated area and intercepted the boat proceeding with the arrest of its four crew members and the seizure of 3 tons of hashish, 1,590 pounds sterling in cash and a large number of mobile phones.

Following these arrests, investigations continued and it was established that this organisation had contracted docking permission in the port of Fuengirola where the drugs were unloaded and then transported to the United Kingdom.

Two other members of the group under investigation were identified as two British citizens who were in charge of the logistics of the network. One of them was arrested while travelling in a van carrying numerous suitcases and sports bags in which 4,595 cartons of tobacco, weighing 50 grams each were located and seized. The other component of the network is currently on the run, with a search and arrest warrant in force.

The investigation conducted by the Examining Court number 2 of Fuengirola has been undertaken by agents belonging to the OCON-SUR, the Organized Crime and Anti-Drug Team of the Organic Unit of Judicial Police and the Provincial Maritime Service of the Malaga Civil Guard Command, and have been received support by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA).