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Blocks of cocaine thrown into the water between Ibiza and Alicante

cocaine

Officials from the Tax Agency have seized 34 kilos of cocaine that had been thrown into the Ibiza Channel, in the waters between the eastern end of the island and Cabo de la Nao, to be collected at sea by an organisation dedicated to drug trafficking.

In a statement, the Tax Agency explained on Wednesday that with this intervention, which took place on January 20, “an attempted shipment was thwarted” since the transfer of the drugs was avoided using the ‘drop off’ method, which consists of throwing the merchandise from a merchant ship so that it is picked up by smaller vessels, near the destination country.

The Palma-based Customs Surveillance patrol boat Paiño discovered the drugs when it was sailing on a preventive service on a regular maritime route.

The agents observed two packages floating in the sea tied by a rope, which were adrift, and they picked them up from the water, discovering that they were wrapped in black plastic and duct tape, and that inside they contained 30 plastic-wrapped packages.

The packages tested positive for cocaine in the ‘narcotest’ and the packages had a gross weight of 34 kilos, so their sale on the black market would have exceeded 2 million euros.

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The Tax Agency explains that the ‘drop-off’ technique consists of “corrupt personnel” from the crew of merchant ships that make an ordinary route “throwing floating packages with narcotics into the sea”, which are later recovered from the sea by some organization based in the areas where the drugs are destined. It also highlights that in August 2018, 334 kilos were seized on board the motor vessel ‘HCH-X’, whose five crew members had recovered the bales from the sea after they had been thrown from the merchant ship Erato as it passed through waters near Ibiza.

The Balearic patrol boats Paiño and Colimbo IV participated in the air-naval operation, along with a Customs Surveillance helicopter. The circumstances surrounding the discovery have not allowed any arrests to be made, so the investigation remains open. The intervention was carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the Sub-directorate of Customs Surveillance Operations for 2025, which establishes operations focused on intensifying the fight against maritime trafficking and the protection of commercial traffic, the statement added.


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Costa Blanca

Torrevieja’s new Local Police fleet

Eduardo Dolón, the mayor of Torrevieja, Federico Alarcón, the councillor for security and emergencies, and Alejandro Morer, the director general of police, presented the 17 new cars that will be used by the Local Police on Paseo Vista Alegre yesterday morning, Wednesday 2nd March. The vehicles will be leased for four years with a purchase option.

A total of 1,147,660.80 euros (286,915.20 euros for each contract year) is allocated for the purchase of these cars.

The 17 vehicles that are leased are:

  • Ten SUV patrol cars, all hybrids (four equipped with police gear and an arrest kit, and six equipped with police gear but no arrest kit).
  • Two vans: one with nine seats for police equipment and one for police and report preparations.
  • A police-equipped all-terrain pickup truck for the Environmental Group.
  • Four local police general service support cars without police gear (they should only have rotating magnetic LED lights with an integrated siren and, in three of them, police shields on the front and rear hoods and doors).

In addition, the successful bidder, Transtel, has offered to deliver to Torrevieja City Council two portable vehicle battery jump starters, each worth €200, two fixed/portable vehicle jump starters/chargers, each worth €600, and a high-quality workshop tool trolley with at least 170 parts, valued at €300.

Eduardo Dolón, the mayor of Torrevieja, has emphasised the financial investments made by the city council of Torrevieja in recent years to enhance the number of police officers and the fleet of vehicles of the Local Police, which has increased significantly in the last two years.

Eduardo Dolón said that the government team hopes to increase the number of officers in the Torrevieja Local Police force to 200 by the end of the current term in 2027. This is a significant number in order to provide all the necessary citizen security services that the thousands of tourists who visit Torrevieja each year and the residents of Torrevieja themselves deserve.

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Man arrested in Torrevieja for the death of a 5-year-old jailed

Following his appearance today, Thursday 3rd April, before the judge of the Court of Violence against Women number 2 of Murcia, Jesús J. “Suso,” 48, who was arrested in Torrevieja as the suspected perpetrator of the death of his five-year-old stepdaughter in the Murcian district of Llano de Brujas, will be held in provisional custody without bail.

Additionally, judicial sources state that the adoptive mother has also been questioned as a victim-witness, always accompanied by the victim support unit psychologist. A number of witnesses have also been questioned, including the detainee’s brother and parents.

Along with initiating the required support and social protection measures by directing her to the appropriate authorities, the court has also issued a protection order against the victim, which forbids the accused from contacting or approaching her as a precaution. Although the inmate had no prior allegations of gender-based assault, the court found him guilty in 2010 and 2014 of making threats in connection with domestic abuse, for which he was imprisoned for two years initially and then for an additional year.

The accused was taken to court facilities at 9:40 am following his arrest in Torrevieja on Tuesday, 1st April. Under the watchful observation of National Police officers, some of the girl’s family gathered at the entrance to the City of Justice in Murcia to demand justice for Nadia.

The incident, which has stunned society, happened last Tuesday when Jesús J.G. called the minor’s adoptive mother, Ramona, and said, “The girl is already in heaven.” The accused’s parents later discovered the youngster dead at the family home in the Llano de Brujas district, allegedly as a result of the minor consuming pills or other narcotics.

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Given that retaliation against his former spouse may have been the driving force behind the crime, preliminary investigations suggest that vicarious violence may have occurred. Although there were records of threats in texts sent to the victim’s mother, there were no prior reports of abuse.


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Alicante’s Urbanova Beach, finally campervan free

Over the past week, Urbanova Beach’s scenery has undergone significant transformation. The caravans have vanished from the parking area close to Urbanova Beach after months of homeowners’ concerns about overpopulation. Through a campaign and recent surveillance, the local police have intervened and accomplished what the inhabitants have long sought: the removal of large trucks from the area that, in certain cases, had been there for months.

Up until now, enforcement of municipal ordinances that forbid parking cars wider than five meters in specific locations has been slack. The Local Police have started an “on-site campaign” this week to alert camper van and motorhome owners about the new rules, according to municipal sources. Warnings of potential fines for repeat offences have been sent, even though no consequences have been applied as of yet. To stop a recurrence of the crime, two neighbourhood police officers assigned to the area will also continue to monitor the parking lot.

After months of grievances, the people of Urbanova are relieved by this intervention. The president of the Urbanova citizens’ organisation, María José Molina, emphasises the obvious changes in the neighbourhood. They have eliminated them, or at least there are fewer of them, and it appears like things are progressing. They’ve been informed by the local police, and it’s evident that they’ve acted,” Molina adds.

In addition to reducing beachgoers’ parking options, the overpopulation of these cars in Urbanova caused issues for the neighbourhood. Residents blasted the car parks transformation into a makeshift camping area with the placement of seats, tables, and even tents as an excessive infringement on public space.

The issue of RV parking in Alicante has not been resolved, despite the fact that the work in Urbanova has temporarily freed the area. Owners of these cars are currently forced to look for alternatives on beaches and in residential areas because the city lacks public locations specifically designed for this kind of vehicle.

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The only official motorhome parking space on Playa de San Juan was closed in 2021, making matters worse. The area had previously been used for Cirque du Soleil and other events, but it was never reopened. The Institute of Tourism Research at the University of Alicante was commissioned by the Alicante City Council in January of this year to evaluate the financial effects of motorhome tourism and investigate potential remedies. Though it is not ruled out that it would be on the oceanfront or second line, the potential of making municipal land accessible for this usage is being explored.


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Il Trovatore in Torrevieja
February 26, 2025    
20:00 - 22:00
The Municipal Theatre in Torrevieja will be the host to the opera Il Trovatore on Wednesday 26 February, 2025.
Orihuela Medieval Market
February 28, 2025 - March 2, 2025    
All Day
Orihuela hosts a medieval festival every year. The market starts at the Cathedral and has many stalls selling food, drink, souvenirs, artefacts, jewellery, and apparel, [...]
TARAB - Film Symphony Orchestra in Torrevieja
March 7, 2025    
20:00 - 22:00
TARAB - Film Symphony Orchestra will perform a concert of classic film scores in Torrevieja on 7 March 2025 at the International Auditorium. The ecstasy [...]
Classic Car Show in Alicante
March 8, 2025 - March 9, 2025    
All Day
Classic vehicles from well-known automakers like Ferrari and Porsche will be on display in Alicante on March 8th and 9th, 2025. Antic Auto, the International [...]
Fire Station Open Day - Alicante Province
On Saturday, March 8, the Alicante Provincial Council Firefighters Consortium will open its stations to the public and host a number of family-friendly events in [...]
Torrevieja VII International Flamenco Day
March 9, 2025    
19:00 - 21:30
Flamencoflamenco Flamenco FfThe Casa de Andalucia Rafael Alberti in Torrevieja is excited to celebrate the 7th International Day of Flamenco with a wonderful lineup of [...]
Anastacia in Concert in Barcelona
March 12, 2025    
21:00 - 22:30
Anastacia in Concert in Barcelona is something fans of the American singer will be pleased to know, as she is performing in concert in March [...]
Anastacia's Second Concert in Barcelona
March 13, 2025    
21:00 - 22:30
Anastacia in Concert in Barcelona is something fans of the American singer will be pleased to know, as she is performing in concert in March [...]
Anastacia in Concert in Madrid
March 15, 2025    
21:00 - 22:30
Anastacia in Concert in Madrid is something fans of the American singer will be pleased to know, as she is performing in concert in March [...]
Zombie Survival in Orihuela
March 22, 2025    
22:00 - 23:45
The 'Survival zombie' challenge, an interactive event set in several streets, will be held for the first time in Orihuela. Participants will be immersed in [...]
The FRIENDSâ„¢ TV Experience in Madrid
March 27, 2025 - June 29, 2025    
All Day
The FRIENDSâ„¢ Experience is coming to Spain for the first time. Inspired by one of the most popular television series in history, The FRIENDSâ„¢ Experience [...]
Brothers in Band: The Very Best of Dire Straits in Torrevieja
March 28, 2025    
20:30 - 22:30
Dire Straits is more than just a band; it's a legend in the history of modern music from 1977 to 1992. Brothers in Band is [...]
ComarCON in Torrevieja
March 29, 2025 - March 30, 2025    
All Day
On Saturday, April 29th, and Sunday, April 30th, the Torrevieja Sports Palace will host the annual ComarCON'25 event. With free entrance and countless hours of [...]
OST: American Music in Torrevieja
March 29, 2025    
19:00 - 21:00
The Torrevieja Symphony Orchestra is performing a concert of classical music in honour of the great American composers. In what will be one of the [...]
Put your clocks forward
March 30, 2025    
03:00 - 03:00
Alicante Car Show 4th - 6th April
April 4, 2025 - April 6, 2025    
10:00 - 21:00
This weekend, Alicante will host the biggest car show in the province. The 21st edition of Sobre 2 ruedas and the 53rd edition of Firauto, [...]
Events on February 26, 2025
Il Trovatore in Torrevieja
26 Feb 25
Torrevieja
Events on February 28, 2025
Orihuela Medieval Market
28 Feb 25
Orihuela
Events on March 7, 2025
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Anastacia in Concert in Barcelona
12 Mar 25
Barcelona
Events on March 13, 2025
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Zombie Survival in Orihuela
22 Mar 25
Orihuela
Zombie Survival in Orihuela
22 Mar 25
Orihuela
Zombie Survival in Orihuela
22 Mar 25
Orihuela
Events on March 27, 2025
Events on March 28, 2025
Events on March 29, 2025
ComarCON in Torrevieja
29 Mar 25
Torrevieja
OST: American Music in Torrevieja
29 Mar 25
Torrevieja
Events on March 30, 2025
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