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17 arrested for people trafficking after the death of two Brits in a road accident

National Police

Following the deaths of two persons in a traffic accident on the La Manga del Mar Menor highway, National Police agents, working in tandem with the Civil Guard, have eliminated a criminal organisation that specialises in migrant trafficking.

Two persons were killed and eleven injured in the November 16th tragedy, which happened when a car blocking the road with a caravan that was towing a boat caused seven vehicles to collide.

17 persons have been taken into custody by agents on suspicion of belonging to a group that uses fast boats to encourage illegal immigration. Two cars, including the one involved in the fatal collision, two weapons, cell phones, beacons, and drugs were seized as a consequence of three searches conducted in Molina del Segura (Murcia), Elche, and Rojales.

The inquiry started on October 6th with the seizure of a rubber boat with a 150 HP engine and the arrest of three individuals by Civil Guard agents near kilometre 10 of the La Manga del Mar Menor road. A GPS, a satellite phone, 14 30-liter petrol canisters, bags, equipment, clothing and food were all confiscated from the boat.

Since then, the National Police and Civil Guard have been conducting a joint investigation, which has led to the discovery of a criminal organisation that reportedly planned to launch a small boat in the region.

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Two British individuals lost their lives in a deadly accident.


An accident on the RM-12 route (El Algar-La Manga del Mar Menor), which runs through the municipality of Cabo de Palos-Cartagena, was reported to the Civil Guard one month later on November 16. When the authorities got there, they saw a number of automobiles colliding with an inflatable boat, resulting in a multiple accident. It appears that the accident happened when a car carrying a boat blocked the road with a trailer, causing seven automobiles to collide. Two British nationals, ages 49 and 57, were killed in the accident, and eleven others suffered injuries of various degrees.

The investigation’s main goal was to dismantle a suspected criminal network that was involved in the transportation of people and drugs across the Strait of Gibraltar after it was established that the vessel was a 10-meter inflatable boat with two 300 HP motors.

The brand and model of the car that was carrying the boat on the day of the collision, the location where it might have been concealed, and the driver’s name were all determined by investigators following multiple police investigations. The agents also found a number of residences connected to the criminal organisation they were investigating and were able to identify a number of individuals.

For the purpose of trafficking migrants, they employed swift boats with strong engines.
Although the structural damage was compatible with the accident, the inquiry found that the suspects had altered the registration number of the car used to transport the boat that resulted in the deadly collision on the La Manga road. The officers also discovered an electrical system that prevented the car’s front and back lights from turning on at the same time, allowing the driver to evade potential police monitoring.

According to agents, the disbanded organization’s primary activity was human trafficking, which involved moving people from North Africa to the Spanish coast via fast boats. Furthermore, they equipped themselves with stolen automobiles that they had fabricated license plates and paperwork for. They may make up to two journeys a day thanks to this innovative method of operation, which involves using high-quality boats (Phantom type) with powerful engines that cut the travel duration to about four or five hours.

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In addition, the network was well-structured, with members clearly delineating their responsibilities. Some of them served as front men to give the boats the appearance of legality, while others were devoted to the preparation of the boats as well as the protection and custody of the pateras.

Three searches and 17 arrests were made in Molina de Segura (Murcia), Elche, and Rojales.
Ultimately, a sizable police force was used to carry out the operation on February 25th by operatives from the Civil Guard and the National Police.

17 people were taken into custody by the officers on suspicion of homicide, injuries, traffic safety violations, damage, abandoning the scene of an accident, illegal gun possession, drug trafficking, smuggling, document falsification, violating the rights of foreign nationals (by aiding illegal immigration), and membership in a criminal organisation.

Additionally, two cars, including the one that caused the deadly accident, a shotgun, a handgun, and ammunition were found during searches conducted in three homes in Molina de Segura (Murcia), Elche, and Rojales (Alicante). In addition, they confiscated almost 3,000 euros, 15 cell phones, beacons, various amounts of hashish and cocaine, and precision scales.

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Costa Blanca

Sticky Vicky’s daughter quits mum’s iconic Benidorm show

Benidorm

Adhesive the stage act has been sensationally abandoned by Vicky’s daughter, who has followed in her late mother’s footsteps, thereby leaving behind her family’s Benidorm legacy.

The unexpected decision was made after María Gadea Aragón assumed responsibility for the adult-themed magic performances following the passing of her mother, Victoria María Aragón Gadea, in 2023 at the age of 80.

María, who had been employing her mother’s stage identity in the well-known Spanish resort, has now discontinued her performances after a decade on stage.

María performed frequently at venues including the Palladium, Zodiaco, and Rockerfellers, as well as Benidorm which is a popular destination for British expatriates and vacationers.

Des Bellamy-Wright, an employee at the Benidorm Palladium, verified that María is no longer employed in the lively Spanish city. Des stated, “Sticky Vicky is no longer operational in Benidorm.” The ‘Carmen Snake – Sticky Show’ is a similarly entertaining program that is broadcast every night at 12:45 a.m. “

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The official reason for Maria’s retirement was not disclosed, and her final performance was in November 2024.


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Costa Blanca

Elche’s H&M shop closing

H&M Zenia

The Swedish retail chain H&M announced in 2024 that it would be reducing the number of stores and employment it has in Spain due to “organisational, productive, and economic” reasons. Around 50 layoffs were the result of the closure of stores in the L’Aljub retail centres in Elche, Ociopía in Orihuela, and Habaneras in Torrevieja, which had consequences for the province of Alicante.

Additionally, these were the sole instances in the Valencian Community that were impacted. The Torrevieja store was the first to shut its doors in May 2024 since that time. The Orihuela store was subsequently closed on September 14th of the same year. Currently, the Elche store has shuttered its doors. The facility was closed to the public on March 14th, following its final day of operation on March 11th. It will be entirely shut down on March 22nd. Approximately 20 employees are being laid off at this Elche store. It is the final establishment in the province of Alicante that will not reopen, and the circumstances of the dismissal were negotiated in October. The employees have departed the company with an agreement as a result of these negotiations, according to Yolanda de la Casa, the general secretary of the CCOO Services Federation in Alicante.

The dismissal terms that were established following the October negotiations were 45 days until 2012 and 33 days until the present. A gratuity of 3,500 euros was granted for the first five years, 4,000 euros for the next ten years, and a maximum of 4,500 euros for the subsequent years.

Furthermore, three relocations have occurred among the 50 individuals who were laid off in the province, spanning Elche, Orihuela, and Torrevieja. Lely Fernández of UGT l’Alacantí-La Marina informed this newspaper that these were part-time employees from the Habaneras shopping centre in Torrevieja who were transferred to the La Zenia shopping centre, which continues to operate and is accessible.

H&M initiated 2024 by announcing the closure of 28 stores and approximately 588 collective redundancies. The figure was reduced to 521 reductions in a subsequent revision.

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The Torrevieja store closed its doors to the public on May 17th, 2024, and the lease expired on May 24th, never to be reopened. Nevertheless, numerous employees at this establishment were granted the opportunity to relocate to other nearby stores that were still operational. In September 2024, Ociopía followed suit, and Elche followed suit in March 2025.

The H&M group operates over 100 stores and employs nearly 4,000 individuals in the country. This decision was made by the Scandinavian company in order to “adapt and perfect” its stores in a “changing” shopping environment for its consumers. Additionally, Spain would be responsible for 17% of the brand’s global closures, as indicated by the data that the company disclosed months ago when it presented its 2023 financial year.


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Costa Blanca

Man stole fire extinguishers to sell as scrap metal

Guardia Civil Stolen Fire Extinqishers

A 20-year-old male is currently under investigation by the Guardia Civil for the purported theft of ten fire extinguishers. The fire extinguishers were discovered by Seprona officers during an inspection of a scrap metal establishment in Torrevieja. The store manager and the criminal are both the subject of an investigation.

The fire extinguishers, which were in near-new condition and completely charged, were discovered by the Servicio de Protección a la Naturaleza (Seprona) officers during the inspection. The investigation was initiated due to the fact that this material is “uncommon” in this form of business, as explained by sources from the Armed Forces.

Upon discovering the fire extinguishers, the officers enquired about the scrapyard manager’s documentation regarding the extinguishers’ arrival. The manager responded that he did not possess any proof of ownership. Additionally, he disclosed that a woman and her son had abandoned them there without his permission.

The company responsible for maintaining the fire extinguishers was identified by Seprona officers after they analysed the evidence and proof acquired. This verified that the extinguishers were located in a building in Torrevieja. The missing equipment was reported by the property manager of this community of proprietors shortly thereafter.

Fire extinguishers were recovered


Officers were permitted to confiscate the fire extinguishers and transport them to the Torrevieja Civil Guard barracks as a result of the formal complaint. Upon verification of their origin, they were returned to their legitimate owners.

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The individuals implicated have been identified as a result of the operation. The 20-year-old man who is supposed to have stolen the fire extinguishers is being investigated for theft, while the 23-year-old proprietor of the scrap yard is being investigated for receiving stolen goods.

The Guardia Civil emphasises the necessity of reporting these types of incidents and reminds all individuals of the significance of doing so. In order to prevent the acquisition of stolen material, scrap metal dealers must establish rigorous controls, such as document checks on sellers and items received.


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