Costa Blanca
Businesspeople swindled out of more than 3,000,000€ in Alicante with fake international loans

Five members of a family in Alicante, Madrid, and Almería have been apprehended by the Guardia Civil. Investigators allege that they are part of a criminal organisation that defrauded merchants of over three million euros by promising fictitious international loans. Four victims have been identified by investigators; however, they believe that there are more than twenty.
Agents searched the family properties, which included a luxury residence in one of Alicante’s most exclusive residential areas and a storage room. Agents confiscated vacuum-packed cash during the search (pictured.)
The operation led to the seizure of a luxury vehicle, numerous bank accounts, electronic devices, and documentation related to the fraudulent transactions, in addition to nearly €27,000 in cash. The seizure of movable and immovable property, including a residence valued at over €2 million, was also requested.
The operation was initiated at the end of last year in response to a complaint from a merchant who had been defrauded of over 70,000 euros while applying for a supposed international loan of one million euros. This complaint revealed a criminal network with numerous victims in various provinces of Spain and even abroad. This initial complaint was succeeded by another, which claimed that a company that had submitted an application for a six million euro loan had been defrauded of over 600,000 euros.
Entrepreneurship recruitment
Entrepreneurs who were unable to obtain conventional financing sought alternatives in international private capital, so the organisation recruited them. A network of recruiters, often unaware of the scam, established the initial contact.
The organization’s members subsequently created fraudulent documents, advertised their services in offices located in reputable business districts, and scheduled appointments with a legitimate notary in Paris. The notary, who was unaware of the scheme, merely verified the signatures.
The victims were requested to pay additional amounts, citing bureaucratic or financial complications, after they had already paid the initial fees for management, broking, insurance, or purported international taxes. They never completed the transfer. The fraud was discovered by some victims after they had made multiple payments.
Currently, we have identified four casualties, but we anticipate that the total number of victims could exceed twenty. The economic loss is expected to exceed three million euros. The provinces of Alicante and Almería are the primary locations of those affected.
The married couple who were considered the ringleaders of the scheme were among those detained, and they were already apprehended in 2022 for similar offences during a police operation. The individuals involved in the scheme were able to maintain a high standard of living. The man allegedly violated the order to depart the country on numerous occasions to conduct transactions associated with the scam, including signing at a notary in Paris and collecting cash. Additionally, the other suspects received comprehensive training and were responsible for specific tasks within the conspiracy, including recruiting, translating, and preparing legal documents.
The Urban and Economic Crimes Team of the Alicante Judicial Police Unit conducted the operation with the assistance of the Technological Investigation Team of the same command.
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Costa Blanca
Aena closed the first quarter of 2025 with a profit of 301.3 million euros

Aena’s net profit for the first quarter of 2025 was €301.3 million, which represents an increase from €261 million in the same period of the previous year. The gross operating profit was €643.6 million, with a margin of 48.6%. In comparison to 2024 (€581.1 million), this figure indicates a 10.8% increase.
The total consolidated revenue for the first quarter of 2025 was €1,325.6 million, a 7.5% increase from the same period in the previous year. Aeronautical revenue was €683.6 million, while commercial revenue was €441.1 million.
The Brazilian Airports Block (BOAB) consolidation generates €46.8 million in revenue and €25.7 million in EBITDA. The Aena Group (Spain, London-Luton, and Aena Brazil) expanded its passenger traffic to 78.3 million, a 4.9% increase from 2024.
The number of passengers at Spanish airports increased by 4.7%, reaching 63.6 million. The timing of Easter, which occurred in March last year and April this year, as well as the fact that last year was a leap year, has an impact on the comparative figures with the same period in 2024.
Investments
The investment, which totalled 203.1 million euros between January and March 2025, was primarily directed towards the enhancement of operational safety and airport facilities.
In the first quarter of 2025, Aena Group’s OPEX, which encompasses procurement, personnel, and other operating expenses, increased to €691.9 million from €659.9 million in the same period of 2024. The evolution of these expenses is indicative of the group’s personnel expenses (+10.7%) and the Spanish network’s expenses for items such as electricity (+22.4%), maintenance (+9.5%), and security (+8.3%).
The year-on-year increase in other operating expenses at the Spanish airport network was €17.1 million, which is 4.7% higher than the corresponding period from January to March 2024, excluding the impact of energy. The consolidated group’s net financial debt-to-EBITDA ratio decreased to 1.37 times from €5,498 million for the full year 2024, as the Aena Group’s consolidated accounting net financial debt stood at €4,886 million.
The first quarter of 2025 saw solid cash generation. The net cash generated from operating activities increased to €820.4 million from €723.7 million in the first quarter of 2024.
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Costa Blanca
Luxury in El Campello: Balinese beds on the beaches

The beaches of El Campello are about to experience a new level of luxury. The City Council’s Department of Beaches and Tourism Infrastructure has granted concessionaires the authority to construct “Balinese beds” on the sand, which are relaxing elements that “add value to the beaches.” This includes the rental of sun loungers and umbrellas on the beaches.
In a statement, the City Council clarifies that the authorisation, which is available to all concessionaires, is always contingent upon the fact that the installation of these elements “does not entail expanding the space granted to them” to install hammocks.
According to the City Council, which is led by Rafa Galvañ, concessionaires who desire to provide these beds, which are typically constructed from wood and are resistant to coastal environmental conditions, may do so without expanding the designated area.
To date, two of these regions have adopted the proposal and have installed Balinese beds in Muchavista that are waterproof, sun-resistant, and simple to clean. These beds are equipped with white side curtains and a custom-made roof that is suitable for machine washing. They have also been treated with fire-retardant and antibacterial components.
The dimensions are 200 centimetres in width, 182 centimetres in depth, and 210 centimetres in height. This furniture is intended to set it apart from other beaches and highlight the sun lounger and umbrella service area, thereby imbuing it with elegance and personality.
Hammock and umbrella dealers must submit a specific request to the City Council to construct these beds. This request must include technical specifications and catalogues of the materials they intend to use.
However, what is the cost? According to the same sources, the concessionaire that commissioned the infrastructure in Muchavista charges €21 per day for two hammocks and a parasol, while a Balinese bed that accommodates three individuals costs €50 per day.
Furthermore, one should consider midday rentals, which would restrict the use and enjoyment of these relaxation facilities to approximately 25-30 euros.
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El Corte Inglés in Alicante now offers sign language services

With the implementation of the SVISUAL sign language video interpretation service, El Corte Inglés in Alicante has made a significant stride towards inclusivity. This service is intended for deaf users of the language. The event presenter clarified that this initiative “reinforces its commitment to service and accessibility so that everyone can receive quality care.” This system was initially introduced in Murcia and has since been implemented in Cartagena, Valencia, and Castellón. It has been further expanded to include Alicante and Elche, thereby concluding its implementation throughout the Valencian Community.
The significance of partnerships in facilitating this advancement was underscored by Santiago Sánchez, the Communications Director of El Corte Inglés Murcia. “This project was initiated as a pilot project in Murcia nearly two years ago, and we have been gradually expanding its implementation throughout the Valencian Community, thanks to the National Confederation of the Deaf’s collaboration and the Regional Office of El Corte Inglés in Levante’s dedication.” He also announced its imminent extension to Castilla-La Mancha. He also underscored that it is “a source of pride that from now on, anyone who visits El Corte Inglés and requires the assistance of a sign language interpreter will have it.”
Carolina García, president of the Federation of the Deaf in the Valencian Community, participated in the presentation to emphasise the recognition of sign language. She stated, “Article 13.4 explicitly states that sign language is the language of deaf people, was created by deaf people, and should be the object of care, respect, and value.” García expressed gratitude to El Corte Inglés for its dedication, describing it as “a perfect example of this accessibility achieved” and expressing his hope that “other companies will follow El Corte Inglés’ example to make their various areas accessible.”
Lidia López, the Councillor for Social Welfare of the Alicante City Council, also attended the event. She emphasised the significance of companies such as El Corte Inglés taking such significant actions, which, as she stated, “eliminate all types of barriers and serve as an example to other companies in the municipality of Alicante and, consequently, in other provinces.”
Employees of El Corte Inglés have received training to comprehend individuals with hearing impairments and use the app embedded on their tablets to communicate with interpreters. The CNS Foundation for the Removal of Communication Barriers, the Federation of the Deaf of the Valencian Community, and El Corte Inglés are collaborating to implement this initiative.
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