Costa Blanca
Following a robbery in Alicante, a gang that had stolen from homes in Spain, France, and Italy are arrested

Following an investigation into a robbery in Alicante where the perpetrators used keys they had previously stolen from the owner while he was in a Benidorm water park, the National Police have dismantled a criminal organisation that specialises in home invasions in several Spanish provinces, France, and Italy.
Four men of Chilean and Colombian nationality, ages 39 to 46, were taken into custody by Alicante investigators in Barcelona as part of the police investigation. As accused of committing public health violations, car theft, burglary, and membership in a criminal organisation, three of them were imprisoned. The inmates were found to have 2.3 kilogrammes of cocaine and over a hundred expensive watches.
After a robbery occurred in an Alicante home, the inquiry was started since the robbers were able to enter without breaking the lock.
According to investigations, the accused criminals had stolen the keys to a house in a Benidorm water park before moving on to the victim’s Alicante residence to complete the heist.
The offenders used the victim, a man who was enjoying the day with his family at the Benidorm park, to steal the keys to his house when he left his rucksack unsecured on one of the sun loungers while he went swimming.
The victim was unaware that the crime had occurred until he got home and discovered that the only missing items were the keys he carried in his rucksack.
Thieves were located
The perpetrators of this robbery were identified by investigators, who also verified that they were a well-organised criminal organisation with prior criminal experience in this kind of crime and a clear and efficient method of operation that was primarily centred on stealing from cars or directly from people. They obtained the keys and addresses of the homes, then proceeded to the residences and used the “false key” method to complete the crime.
They used a variety of methods to get inside the homes, including forcing the security features, utilising the slip method, or even using their own keys that they had previously taken.
Excellent mobility in France, Italy, and Spain
Their involvement in at least seven car-jackings in the provinces of Zaragoza, Burgos, and Madrid was discovered over the course of the inquiry. In two of these cases, they proceeded to the victims’ houses with the keys and robbed them.
Additionally, it was proven that the suspects frequently travelled to France, where they used the same method of operation to perpetrate crimes.
As a result of the actions performed thus far, investigators travelled from Alicante to Barcelona, where they discovered two homes that served as hiding locations for the suspects and the stolen goods.
More than 100 luxury watches, jewellery, consoles, and handbags from well-known brands were seized after a search and seizure request resulted in the arrest of four males and the discovery of items taken during the thefts. Two cars, 2,300 grammes of cocaine, and 1,500 euros in cash were also taken into custody.
Investigators were able to accuse the inmates with crimes perpetrated in the European cities of France and Italy as well as the provinces of Alicante, Zaragoza, Burgos, and Madrid after the homes were searched and evidence was found.
Three of the detainees were ordered to be sent to prison after the police processes were concluded and they were hauled before a Barcelona court.
Measures were conducted to ascertain the origin of the confiscated objects, some of which were able to be returned to their owners and coincided with the robberies under investigation.
More people who could have taken part in the events under investigation could still be arrested as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Discover more from Costa Blanca Daily
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Costa Blanca
Orihuela will distribute 750 new bins throughout the municipality starting next month

The Orihuela City Council’s Department of Urban Solid Waste will begin distributing 758 new containers throughout the municipality in June, with the goal of increasing containerisation and encouraging selective garbage collection. This project has been awarded a total of €690,000 (including VAT).
Rocio Ortuño, Councillor for Urban Solid Waste, stated that the renovation aligns with state legislation and the Local Waste Plan, and is a significant step towards a more efficient, clean, and recycling-friendly model.
The new containers are available in both side and top loading configurations. Specifically, the delivery comprises:
Rotourban model (side loading)
-80 units for containers (yellow fixed lid)
-140 units for paper-cardboard (blue fixed lid)
-326 units for the remaining fraction (contactless lid, grey)
Rotoglobe Model (Top Loading)
-80 units for packaging
-132 units for paper-cardboard
All containers will be customised with vinyl specifying the proportion in Spanish and a heat-printed City Hall symbol. With this project, the municipality will install 432 additional recycling containers (containers, paper, and cardboard) and 326 for other fractions, thereby improving selective collection at the source and environmental compliance.

Ortuño observed that “the new 2022 Waste Law, approved by the government, has not only forced local councils to modify and increase their waste tax, but also imposes a new tax of 30 euros per tonne of waste, which in the case of Orihuela represents an annual cost of nearly one million euros.”
The councillor stated that another batch of rear-loading containers will be awarded in the coming days at a tender value of €110,000. This batch includes 877 units, which will begin arriving in late June or early July, concluding the municipality’s container fleet renewal operation.
Discover more from Costa Blanca Daily
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Costa Blanca
Power outages uncovered a ‘jungle’ of 800 marijuana plants in Orihuela

The National Police in Orihuela, Alicante, have dismantled an indoor marijuana plantation with 784 plants that was installed inside a warehouse on the town’s outskirts, and have arrested four men as alleged perpetrators of drug trafficking, document forgery, membership in a criminal group, and electricity fraud, as the illegal plantation was supplied with electricity via an illegal connection.
The inquiry began after diverse information was obtained concerning the likely existence of a facility on a property on the outskirts of the municipality of Orihuela that may be used for illegal activities, similar to indoor marijuana cultivation.
As a result of discreet surveillance of the surrounding area and other investigations, officers from the Orihuela Police Station’s Judicial Police Brigade noticed four individuals entering and exiting the warehouse. Investigators identified this conduct as common practice among the proprietors of this type of plantation.
Among these common acts, the agents saw how those involved performed counter-surveillance functions, looking in all directions to notify that no one was watching them as they entered and exited the warehouse.
Following confirmation of their suspicions, the exploitation phase of the operation began with the interception of a car driven by one of the suspects. The trunk included two green plastic bags with marijuana residue, as well as other plant-growing supplies like fertiliser.
The property under investigation was then entered and searched, resulting in the arrest of a second culprit, while the other two were held at their respective homes.
Following the arrests of people under investigation, a search of the warehouse was conducted, which was partitioned into two rooms and used for different purposes depending on the flowering stage of up to 784 cannabis sativa (marijuana) plants discovered within. Their development and culture were aided by a complete and modern lighting and ventilation system, and their electricity supply was later discovered to be obtained through an illegal connection to the power grid.
On the other hand, those arrested did not scrimp on passive technical methods of monitoring the farm, since there were cameras along the perimeter, forming a closed-circuit video surveillance system with motion sensors. This circuit covered all access angles to the plot, indicating a certain level of sophistication, resulting in increased security in the guarding and custody of the merchandise, as is typical of facilities designed by experienced individuals, with the goal of providing remote security coverage to the plantation located within.
Frequent power outages in the neighbourhood
As a result, the electricity consumption generated by this set of facilities was so high that local residents’ demonstrations revealed that they had experienced power outages on several occasions for no apparent reason, possibly due to consumption peaks caused by the illegal connection typical of this type of plantation.
Finally, another piece of evidence demonstrating the criminal group’s ability was the use of a falsified paperwork to rent the ship, which is usual among this type of organised gang; they impersonated third parties to mask their genuine identities.
The operation led to the arrest of four people suspected of drug trafficking, document forgery, electricity fraud, and membership in a criminal organisation. The plantation was demolished, and all 784 plants were seized.
Discover more from Costa Blanca Daily
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Costa Blanca
Torreta Florida, Torrevieja floodplain park has been inaugurated

Eduardo Dolón, Mayor of Torrevieja, was joined by Sandra Sánchez, Councillor for Urban Services; Concha Sala, Councillor for Parks and Gardens; Diana Box, Councillor for Sports; Jorge Ballesta, Manager and Deputy Manager of AGAMED; and Gemma Cruz to inaugurate the new skate park in the Torrealmendros rolling pond. This facility is part of a larger initiative to develop, improve, and integrate Torreta Florida Floodplain Park into the landscape.
Claudio Pastor, the president of the Puro Skateboard Torrevieja Skating Club, and secretary Silvia Jiménez led a large contingent of members to the opening ceremony. It is worth noting that Valeria Chacón, a young Torrevieja member of this club, is the Valencian Community champion in her category and is currently competing in an Olympic sport. The club’s skating squad complimented and thanked Torrevieja City Council for developing this enormous sports facility, which was created with their input to be as effective as possible for their training sessions.
The mayor congratulated AGAMED on the opening of the sports area located on the storm pond, which required an expenditure of about 700,000 euros, and praised the Puro Skateboard Club for its support and collaboration throughout the development of the park. The park has become a popular location for practicing this sport.
This new sports facility includes a modern skate park with specialised modules such as Quarter+Flat, Hand Rail, Manual Pad+Flat, Flat Rail, and Funbox+Hubba+Spine, allowing skaters to practise numerous modalities and techniques of this urban sport.
The project comprises not only the sports facility but also a callisthenics area, new street furniture, and a thorough landscape integration plan based on planting, all of which contribute to the space’s renaturalisation and the establishment of a new green space for all citizens to enjoy.
This project is a key step towards upgrading Torrevieja’s sports and leisure facilities by providing a modern and multifunctional place for skateboarding and other outdoor activities.
Discover more from Costa Blanca Daily
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
-
Costa Blanca5 days ago
The El Raso, Guardamar celebrates with a Tapas Route and concerts between May 15th and 17th
-
Costa Blanca2 weeks ago
27 members of the Mara Salvatrucha gang arrested in Madrid, Barcelona, Tarragona, and Guardamar
-
Costa Blanca2 weeks ago
Green light for drafting of park-and-ride parking project in Torrevieja
-
News1 week ago
Four people arrested in Alicante province for storing and exchanging child pornography
-
Costa Blanca5 days ago
AP7 Motorway tunnel at Pilar de la Horadada CLOSED due to fire
-
Costa Blanca2 weeks ago
Squatter arrested after setting fire to a house in Alicante
-
Costa Blanca2 weeks ago
Elche prohibits the sale and consumption of sunflower seeds to protect the Martínez Valero stadium
-
Costa Blanca5 days ago
Elche joins the national protests for Palestine on May 10th