The Spanish Association of Property and Commercial Registrars reported that the province of Alicante accounted for an impressive 44.34% of total sales in the fourth quarter of 2023, the highest percentage among Spanish provinces in terms of property purchases by foreigners.

British nationals accounted for 9.80% of real estate investments in Spain. German nationals followed at 7.32%, French nationals at 6.06%, Belgian nationals at 5.57%, and Moroccan nationals at 5.50%.

Alicante has sold a total of 48,243 properties in the past year, making it the third most active province in terms of transactions, trailing only Barcelona (58,410) and Madrid (70,235).

Last Thursday, April 17th, a 12-year-old boy was rescued from La Glea beach (Campoamor) after he strayed perilously far from the shore on an inflatable boat. Although the green flag was flying and the seas were calm, the incident occurred at approximately noon. Nevertheless, a moderate offshore wind caused the float and the child to drift out to sea.

The rescue jet ski and the basic life support (BLS) ambulance assigned to the beach service were mobilised as a result of the lifeguard on duty’s prompt intervention, which identified the situation and promptly activated the emergency protocol. The operation was successfully completed without any significant repercussions. The child was rescued, and the medical team conducted an on-site evaluation, which confirmed his excellent health, despite the understandable apprehension.

The coordinator of the rescue and lifeguard service on Orihuela beaches emphasised the operation’s effectiveness, but he also emphasised the child’s family members’ limited presence during the rescue: “We were taken aback that they did not appear until the ambulance had completed the medical assessment.”

The lifeguard service is advising the public to exercise greater caution when it comes to minors in aquatic environments, even in ostensibly safe circumstances, as the bathing season approaches.

A marijuana plantation with 481 plants concealed in a single-family home in Busot (Alicante) was dismantled by the Guardia Civil as part of the ‘Legar’ operation,  resulted in the imprisonment of a couple who were accused of drug trafficking, electricity fraud, cultivation and production of narcotic substances, and membership in a criminal organisation.

    The investigation commenced in August 2024, when agents from the Investigation Area of the Guardia Civil of the municipality of Alicante from Sant Vicent del Raspeig, through the collaboration of a citizen, were informed of constant noises from electrical devices and suspicious movements allegedly carried out by some neighbours who resided in a three-story building of approximately 400 square meters (m2).

    The agents discovered that the house was rented by a couple who presumably paid the rent in cash and kept the electricity supplied to the owner’s name after conducting a variety of procedures, as stated in a statement by the armed institute.

    Agents entered and searched the residence on April 1st, where they apprehended the two primary suspects, a man and a woman of Serbian descent, aged 45 and 44, respectively. The suspects resided at the residence with their young son.

    The final phase of flowering was observed in 481 adult marijuana plants that were dispersed throughout all rooms of the housing, including areas that were equipped with works to conceal the installation. These works included modified partitions, boarded-up windows, holes in forged, high-capacity electrical and ventilation systems, as well as specific machinery for the treatment and packaging of the product.

    The clandestine laboratory was equipped with cutting-edge technologies, including low-consumption LED displays, osmosis systems, anti-odour filters, and chemical fertilisers, which were designed to enhance the concentration of the active ingredient in marijuana. These technologies were valued at over 18,000 euros.

    Technicians from the electric company discovered an alleged fraudulent connection to the underground network during the inspection. This connection was potentially hazardous and could have resulted in a fire.  Furthermore, they informed the agents that the purported electricity fraud exceeded 80,000 wattage, which is equivalent to the consumption of approximately 50 residential properties with comparable features.

    The Court of Instruction number one of Sant Vicent del Raspeig has ordered the imprisonment of the two detainees, who are accused of the crimes of cultivation and production of narcotic substances, trafficking drugs, electricity fraud, and belonging to a criminal organisation.