Costa Blanca
Nineteen endangered turtles have been recovered in Alicante by police operations in 135 countries

As part of Operation Thunder, which has been conducted in 135 countries in cooperation with groups and entities like the World Customs Organisation, the Guardia Civil’s Nature Protection Service (Seprona) has detained 13 individuals on suspicion of being involved in the illegal trafficking of protected species in Spain.
According to Seprona, the programme is one of the biggest worldwide efforts to combat environmental crimes, having recovered over 20,000 wildlife species in recent years. nineteen endangered turtles have been saved in Alicante.
The cyber patrol was coordinated by Spanish agents with help from specialised NGOs and Europol, and included environmental crime experts from Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, the Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom.
In Spain
The Guardia Civil in Spain has conducted 438 inspections, found 193 administrative and 11 criminal infractions, arrested and investigated 13 individuals, and seized 50 inert pieces, including ivory, tusks, paws, and skins, as well as 192 live specimens.
In his presentation of the investigations’ primary findings, Commander Ramón González Gallego noted that “in recent years we have detected a certain interest in venomous animals such as snakes,” and that “the European Union is a transit point, but also a destination and origin point for species trafficking,” particularly with regard to birds and reptiles.
Even if “some people are unaware that they are committing a crime,” the reality is that “we are increasingly seeing a more serious form of organised crime, which involves breeding and harvesting species for the purpose of generating profit.”
González claims that the financial gains from this kind of illicit commerce “vary depending on the sources consulted, but internationally, the range is very wide” and surpass 20 billion euros.
Penalties and violations
Along with one smuggling offence and another animal abuse offence linked to the trafficking of protected species, nearly all of the criminal offences found in Spain were related to document falsification.
The Natural Heritage and Biodiversity Law, CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) regulations, companion animal regulations, and animal health and disease and infection regulations were the most prominent administrative infractions.
According to Commander González, the punishments meted out to criminals in this space “are still low, but they are increasing because they are often associated with other crimes such as document forgery,” and “an increase in penalties is expected in the short term.”
Additionally, Operation Thunder has made it possible to identify wood shipments from countries like Russia and Burma that are forbidden because of their origin and EU regulations.
Operational Features
Among the noteworthy operations, Seprona reported recovering 32 species from under the seats and in the trunk of a car in Tenerife, including a gallipato, a Mexican orange-legged tarantula, and a tortoise.
During a check of a residence in Telde (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria), investigators found 31 other species, including pythons, enormous African snails, California garter snakes, yellow scorpions, and lizards.
18 internationally protected and endangered turtles were rescued by Guardia Civil officers in Alicante and taken to the Santa Faz Wildlife Recovery Centre.
A suitcase carrying 98 birds—both siskins and goldfinches, which are protected nationally—was discovered inside a car in Huelva.
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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.
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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“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.”
“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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