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. 

Owners of numerous kebab stores situated in Biar (Alicante) and Yecla (Murcia) have been apprehended by the National Police for violations of employment and immigration regulations. The investigation commenced in March of last year, when an employee of one of the establishments reported that the individual who had engaged him had stolen all of his personal belongings and his documents, according to sources from the force in a statement.

The investigation has disclosed that the primary suspect, a 41-year-old male of Pakistani descent, communicated with other citizens of his country who were in particularly precarious circumstances in Spain. Under extremely precarious circumstances, he provided them with a job in Yecla in exchange for accommodation and board, without an employment contract or social security registration.

The majority of the employees were in Spain illegally, while two of them were juveniles and others lacked valid work permits, as indicated by the five inspections conducted at the establishments. The arrest of eight individuals was the outcome of the investigations, which were conducted by officers from the Yecla Police Station and the National Police Attached Unit in the Valencian Community, as well as members of the Labour and Social Security Inspectorates of Murcia and Alicante.

Specifically, authorities apprehended the primary suspect and charged him with alleged violations of the rights of foreign citizens and labourers. Additionally, a Moroccan man was apprehended for document falsification, and six additional individuals were apprehended for violating the immigration law.

A Belgian tourist regrettably drowned in the marina of the Spanish city of Alicante over the weekend.

On Easter Sunday, April 20th, just before 22:30, the incident transpired. The man, who was in his sixties, was reported to have fallen from his boat, struck his head, and ultimately wound up in the water, according to eyewitnesses.

After hearing unusual sounds, a German couple on a nearby boat became aware of the incident. A body was located floating in the water after they used a torch to investigate.

The individual was retrieved by the couple, who made an attempt to revive him; however, their efforts were unsuccessful.

The victim was a frequent visitor to Alicante and was acquainted with the residents at the mooring. During the resuscitation attempt, the German couple observed that he had a distinct alcohol odour.

The man’s struggle to walk was captured on security camera footage just prior to his collapse. The police have verified that the incident was an accident.