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In Milena, a criminal organisation that possessed over 800 marijuana plants has been dismantled

National Police Drug Farm

In Millena (Alicante), an international criminal organisation that specialised in the intensive cultivation and subsequent sale of marijuana has been effectively dismantled by agents from the National Police and Civil Guard as part of the joint operation CoqVerT. The investigation led to the arrest of four individuals and the confiscation of 800 marijuana plants.

In October 2024, the Judicial Police Brigade of the Alcoi Police Station initiated an investigation into this case after detecting “substantial fraudulent electricity consumption” in an isolated country home in Millena. During the same period, the Ibi Civil Guard’s Countryside Robbery Team (ROCA) was conducting an investigation into a group of citizens who were suspected of being associated with a criminal organisation that specialised in marijuana cultivation, as stated by the Police Headquarters in a statement. Consequently, the two incidents may have been linked as a result of the collaboration between the Ministry of the Interior’s Intelligence Centre against Terrorism and Organised Crime (CITCO) and both police forces. A joint investigation team was established to confirm the criminal activity in light of this information.

The plantation was situated within a property that was rented for €18,000 per year in cash, with payment made in two semiannual installments, according to the evidence. It was found that those involved maintained constant security measures and travelled frequently between Spain and several European countries, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and France, which made police tracking difficult.

Over the course of a four-month investigation, there was a direct connection between individuals of Albanian and Dutch descent. Some of these individuals had criminal records and pending prison sentences in Europe for public health offences. Therefore, on February 19, the exploitation phase of the operation was conducted, with the Torrevieja Citizen Security Unit (USECIC) providing assistance in the break-in and security of the residence. This phase was conducted by National Police and Civil Guard officers.

Three vehicles, 800 marijuana plants, and a variety of cannabis cultivation and processing-related objects were confiscated during the search. In an effort to escape, the two primary suspects toppled a plasterboard wall and fled through the adjacent terraces during the raid. Nevertheless, the police cordon, which was bolstered by a drone, enabled them to be intercepted despite their “significant resistance.” Consequently, two additional arrests were made: one at the police headquarters in Alcoi and the other in the vicinity of the plantation.

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Two Albanian detainees, both 25 years old, and two others, a male and a woman, both 25 and 29, were brought before a court. The court ordered the two Albanian citizens to be imprisoned, while the two Dutch citizens were released on bail.

They are charged with narcotic trafficking, electricity fraud, resistance and disobedience, assaulting law enforcement officers, and belonging to a criminal organisation, depending on the extent of their involvement. The case has been transferred to the Investigative Court No. 2 of the Judicial District. The investigation is ongoing, and it is not impossible for additional arrests to occur.


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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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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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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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November 15, 2024 - December 9, 2024    
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La Purisima fiesta in Torrevieja sees various events in the town.
Events on November 15, 2024
Torrevieja Fiestas Patronales
15 Nov 24
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