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Blocks of cocaine thrown into the water between Ibiza and Alicante

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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

Police arrested a man who sold a niche for 1,500€ that he didn’t own

An individual has been arrested by the National Police in the town of Elche, Alicante, on suspicion of engaging in fraudulent activities. An octogenarian woman had been sold a niche in the town’s historic cemetery in exchange for 1,500 euros. A niche is a small, above-ground space or recess, often within a cemetery wall or structure, where a coffin or urn is placed for burial or storage. As per the municipal registry, the victim was not the owner at the cemetery at the time she attempted to execute the change of ownership.

The investigation commenced following a complaint lodged by an 80-year-old woman from Elche. She met a man through her life insurance broker who offered to lease a niche in the old Elche cemetery for 1,500 euros.

Consequently, the victim met this individual at the same cemetery that housed the requested niche. There, the victim and the man concluded the transfer of the niche and executed a private contract that was signed by both parties, rendering the transfer effective.

The grantor of the niche transferred the deed and other ownership documents associated with it to the victim after the victim paid the agreed-upon amount.

The victim, shortly thereafter, visited the municipal registry of the city to change the ownership. She was told the change was impossible because the person who gave her the property wasn’t the owner.

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The officer who assisted the victim, however, attempted to mediate through a phone contact, despite this. She reported the incident to the National Police after the transferor hung up and ceased answering calls from both the officer and the victim after she explained the case to him.

After conducting the necessary investigations, the officers responsible for the case located and apprehended the suspect for the alleged fraud.

The investigation has been assigned to the Road Safety Investigation Unit of the Benidorm Armed Forces. The driver was subjected to alcohol and substance tests by members of the group, and the area was inspected to collect evidence that would help to resolve the tragic accident that claimed the lives of a family. The driver was apprehended subsequent to preliminary investigations.

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Costa Blanca

Five injured in a two-car accident in Elche

According to the Alicante Provincial Fire Consortium and the Emergency Information and Coordination Centre (CICU), an accident between two vehicles on Avenida Algoda in Elche resulted in the injuries of five individuals: a 30-year-old man, a 19-year-old man, and three minors aged 16 on Saturday, April 19th.

A SAMU unit, an SVB, a conventional ambulance or public transport unit, a command headquarters unit (UMJ), a heavy urban fire department (BUP), a rescue van (FSV), a sergeant, a corporal, and six firefighters from the Elche fire station were dispatched to the scene upon the receipt of the call at approximately 11:35 p.m.

The driver of one of the vehicles was successfully extricated by firefighters (see above.) All of the injured sustained injuries and were transported to the General Hospital in Elche and the Vinalopó Hospital in Elche.


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Costa Blanca

“Drug Supermarket” in Denia closed by Police

Four individuals have been apprehended by National Police officers in Dénia (Alicante) for the “indiscriminate” sale of drugs under the guise of a purportedly legitimate association. Over four kilogrammes of marijuana, cannabis, cocaine, and distribution materials were confiscated during the search.

The investigation began following the identification of a potential clandestine drug trafficking organisation. According to a statement from the police headquarters, the establishment was experiencing a consistent flow of individuals at various periods of the day, despite the absence of any sign or apparent commercial activity.

The officers initiated procedures to confirm the status of the establishment in conjunction with the Judicial Police and Citizen Security Units. They verified that the establishment did not have any activity records registered at the regional level during the inspections.

They also confirmed that the establishment’s basic supplies were registered to someone possibly linked to the criminal community. The association’s manager also had a criminal record.

The police conducted a “discreet” operation that verified the regular sale of narcotics at the establishment. Lines formed outside the establishment to purchase drugs on certain days, “as if it were a genuine drug supermarket.”

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“Once we obtained the necessary judicial authorisations, we conducted a search. The search revealed numerous containers labelled with marijuana, zip-lock sacks containing the same substance, and pre-made homemade cigarettes. Cocaine was consumed in some areas, and some narcotics were hidden in appliances and furniture,” said the police.

The authorities confiscated over four kilogrammes of marijuana, a lesser quantity of hashish, and a small quantity of cocaine. The search resulted in the arrest of two males, aged 42 and 22, respectively.

Despite a court order sealing off the premises, the investigation continued in an effort to identify the remaining suspects. Shortly thereafter, Denia police apprehended two more males, ages 22 and 23.

An alleged offence against public health has resulted in the arrest of the four suspects. Two of the apprehended individuals had prior convictions for comparable offences.

The Denia Court of First Instance has been informed of all the proceedings.

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