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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

Firefighters extinguish fire in a restaurant in the centre of Murcia

A fire that erupted in the early hours of Friday April 18th was extinguished by the firefighters of Murcia. Sources from the Firefighting Service say that the incident happened at a restaurant located in the heart of Murcia, at Plaza de las Flores.

In the early morning, the kitchen on the first floor of the establishment was the site of a fire that began at approximately 1:00 a.m. and did not result in any injuries.

Thirteen rescuers and three fire engines were dispatched to the location. The personnel successfully extinguished the fire and returned to their base one hour later.

The square was cordoned off by the Murcia Local Police to mitigate potential hazards, according to the same sources.


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Costa Blanca

Two years in prison for smashing a glass in a young man’s face

The Alicante Court has sentenced a 33-year-old man to two years in prison for assaulting another man and causing facial injuries by breaking a glass during a dispute at a nightclub in Aspe.

The defendant, who was 27 years old at the time, arrived at the establishment with three other unidentified individuals at approximately 5:10 a.m. on February 17th, 2019. The altercation ensued within the establishment.

The victim was involved in an incident with the four for reasons that remain unexplained. The defendant struck him in the face with a glass, resulting in a fracture that needed medical attention, and the four individuals who were present at the time began punching and shoving him.

The victim, who was 22 years old at the time of the incident, required 63 days to recuperate from the injuries sustained in the attack, according to the sentence issued by a court in the Tenth Section.

At the commencement of the April 14th hearing, the defendant acknowledged the assault after reaching a resolution with respect to the allegations. Consequently, the sentence determines that he is guilty of the offence of bodily injury with deformity. Consequently, he is sentenced to two years in prison, with the sentence suspended.

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Additionally, the court ruling mandates that the victim be prohibited from approaching within 300 metres for a period of three years and that he be awarded €9,000 in compensation, with the obligation to pay the sum in monthly instalments of €500.


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Costa Blanca

Torrevieja fails to comply with its commitment to open new road at La Hoya for Easter

Eduardo Dolón (PP), the mayor of Torrevieja, announced at the beginning of April that the new Avenida José Carreras in the La Hoya residential area would be open to alleviate some of the traffic flow between the main access and exit road to the city, the CV-905, and the northern part of the town this Easter. However, the mayor’s announcement remains unfulfilled.

In his press conference last Thursday, April 17th , the Councillor for Traffic and Safety, Federico Alarcón, did not provide any explanation regarding the matter. Neither did the government team, even on Instagram, which is typically one of their primary communication channels.

This Easter Sunday, the road is still closed to traffic.

On April 3rd, Dolón responded to media enquiries by stating that municipal technicians and representatives of the developer had conducted numerous meetings to facilitate the opening of the four-lane avenue to traffic, with two lanes in each direction.

Given the significant tourist influx during Easter and the congested CV-95, the opening of this road was considered appropriate. By doing so, it would alleviate the traffic congestion.

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The mayor clarified that the City Council must certify the first phase of the development being constructed, while a provisional acceptance of that section of road will be conducted.

Through the administrative process of reception, technicians verify that the works executed by a developer within an urban development plan that has been authorised by the municipality are in accordance with the project’s investment and on-site characteristics.

Víctor Costa, the Director General of Urban Planning at Torrevieja City Council, is currently responsible for validating receipts. It is crucial to consider the administrative process, as it is exceedingly challenging to hold the developer accountable in the event that the City Council identifies deficiencies subsequent to receipt.

Copyright: Derek Appleton

The avenue is more comprehensive than those implemented in other developments in the area in terms of furniture, signage, safety, pedestrian conditions, and accessibility; it spans over one kilometre and the end of the new road, near the N332 (above) doesn’t look fit for traffic as there appears to be a steep incline making it impossible for the likes of buses to naviagate.

The connection between the CV-905 and the northeast area of the Torrevieja municipality has been closed for just over a year. This closure was due to the construction of the macro-urban development project, which will build 7,500 new residential homes in the sector starting in October 2023. The road, which is commonly referred to as the “swiggly road,” is used daily by hundreds of drivers to traverse the city centre.

This year, the Traffic Department has devised an alternative route that traverses numerous residential areas.

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