Costa Blanca
Elderly man held captive by couple who scammed him out of 85,000€

National Police officers have freed an elderly man in Alicante. The elderly individual was allegedly held by a couple who were accused of defrauding over 85,000 euros.
Furthermore, it is purported that the individuals who were apprehended forced him into altering his will and conducted bank transfers to third parties in Colombia, concealing the intended recipient of the funds. The victim was able to flee while her captures were asleep. According to the police headquarters, he requested assistance from a neighbour, who then informed the police officers.
In May 2024, the victim encountered a woman at the hospital who suggested that she care for him after learning that he had no family or close acquaintances. This was the beginning of the story. A few days later, she and her husband moved in with her under the pretence of helping him and preventing others from entering the house.
They were attentive and kind for weeks, taking him for walks and establishing his trust. However, they soon enquired about their bank accounts, confidential passwords, potential heirs, and their heritage.
The agreement underwent modifications as the months progressed. The couple persuaded the victim to travel to Colombia, promising to purchase a property in his name. They processed a variety of documents in Colombia, but they never bought him about any property.
During the journey, he endured degrading treatment and humiliation, which worsened his condition and increased his distress. In Spain, his isolation was further exacerbated by the alleged confiscation of the keys to his own home in order to prevent him from leaving, as well as the stopping of his bank visits and the monitoring of his movements.
Taking advantage of the couple’s slumber, the elderly man was able to escape and request assistance from a neighbour, whom he promptly contacted at 091. A patrol that arrived at the scene discovered the victim in a state of anxiety and nervousness. The agents subsequently located and apprehended the alleged perpetrators in the vicinity of the residence after gathering their testimony and verifying the situation.
The Provincial Brigade of the Alicante Judicial Police conducted a subsequent investigation, which disclosed the full extent of the deception. The couple allegedly altered the elderly man’s will in their favour and transferred a total of 85,233.42 euros to bank accounts in Colombia. They made these transfers in the names of third parties to hinder their tracking.
Additionally, the woman registered two motorcycles in her name after acquiring them with a portion of the funds. It is believed that the accused’s son regularly used these vehicles, despite none of the detainees having the authority to operate them. The victim possessed only 270 euros in his bank accounts at the time of the police intervention.
The couple, a 43-year-old male and 53-year-old woman, were apprehended for the offences of fraud and illegal detention. The Alicante investigating court subsequently placed them in custody.
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Costa Blanca
Four minors arrested for smuggling drugs on a school trip

In two drug dealing operations conducted in Gandia, the National Police have apprehended five individuals, four of whom are juveniles.
According to a statement from the National Police, four minors under the age of 17 were apprehended for allegedly distributing hashish to students on a graduation trip.
The suspects were apprehended as alleged perpetrators of a crime against public health after their location and seizure of 80 grams of marijuana and three ecstasy tablets, following numerous investigations.
Furthermore, a private smoking establishment in the municipality of La Safor that was responsible for the sale of marijuana was demolished.
The putative perpetrator of the crime, a 40-year-old man, was apprehended at the scene. Additionally, 1,393 grams of marijuana and nearly nine grams of hashish were confiscated.
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Costa Blanca
Evaluated residents of San Antón in Elche will not be able to recover belongings

The residents of Block 8 of San Antón who were evacuated will be unable to retrieve their possessions upon their return. This was confirmed by Francisco Soler, the Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Urban Planning yesterday Thursday April 24th. The finalised technical reports have now determined that the staircase is the most problematic area, with evident collapse problems, despite its remote location. Consequently, no items can be recovered, although potential solutions are being investigated for specific cases through firefighter interventions, which allow for access to tiny items from balconies. The Governing Board has also approved the provisions for aid to the family units in the building at the same time.
Therefore, the sole viable option for entry is through premeditated interventions by firefighters, who “could enter to retrieve specific small items in a highly organised and timely manner, as the technical report is exceedingly explicit and the risk of collapse is genuine.” Some examples may include items that are indispensable, such as laptops, mobile phones, or medications. In any event, this will necessitate a case-by-case examination. However, it will not be a formula that can be employed to remove furniture or appliances from residences.
One line of 120,000 euros is designated for rent, while the other is for household items.
In terms of the aid that has been announced, a regional subsidy of €364,492 will be provided to all evicted households. However, there will be two options: one that is explicitly for tenants, and another that is general and can be used to purchase furniture, appliances, and clothing. A allocation of €120,000 will be allocated to each option, totalling €240,000. The City Council has provisionally funded hotel accommodation. Additionally, the cost of small furnishings, such as mattresses or box springs, that were required to be completed to provide emergency housing for the homes allocated by Pimesa (with provisional pre-contracts until the regular ones are formalised) to the owners, as well as the cost of two rentals from the end of the year, has been included. Depending on the circumstances, the financial allocation may be increased by €60,000.
Assistance is available to all individuals, including proprietors and tenants, as well as the six households that declined the City Council’s proposals—with whom there is no change—and individuals who were either squatting or in “precarious occupations.” Only the household that was residing in the property at the time of the eviction will be eligible in these unusual circumstances.
Each tenant family will be eligible for a maximum of 9,600 euros. Nevertheless, this benefit will not be provided to a family while they are residing in a housing resource provided by the City Council. They will be able to claim it once they have departed the municipal alternative and have secured their own housing. In terms of homeowner families, the majority of the homes that are yet to be occupied in the new apartments in the neighbourhood with these pre-contracts will receive a minimum of 600 euros and a maximum of 3,000 euros if they satisfy four criteria:
Evidence of insufficient financial resources to cover the expenses associated with the emergency situation. The family’s annual per capita income is limited to 100% of the current Iprem (Spanish National Income Tax).
The household must be registered in Elche and reside in the vacated residence for a minimum of six months.
Distribution among entities, residences in San Antón, and neighbourhoods
It is important to note that certain families are residing in homes that have been donated by the Conciénciate Foundation, Cáritas, and Un Abrazo de Luz, as they already have their own initiatives in place to address these situations. These families are homeowners, and as such, they are entitled to a residence in the new apartments in San Antón. Nevertheless, the new blocks in Pimesa were home to only 28 residences, which were owned by 31 families. Additionally, the City Council is presently only accepting two rentals for evicted tenants: one for a family in the Raval neighbourhood and another in a student residence. Additionally, as previously mentioned, the owners of the properties in Block 8 who had rented their residences will be eligible to purchase the future 45-unit building.
Families that declined the accommodation alternative
Lastly, Lastra emphasises that they are unable to take any further action in the instances where the City Council’s housing proposal was rejected. I am of the opinion that the City Council has more than adequately executed the emergency plan. He also notes that the circumstances were such that not everyone was able to select a rental location, regardless of whether it was in Carrús, Avenida de la Libertad, or near San Antón. He contends that resources were restricted for these alternatives. “What actions can we take?” I regret that the new block does not provide accommodation for all individuals. Nevertheless, they will be eligible for rental assistance.
Additionally, he contends that the distributions in other neighbourhoods of the city have been determined by the magnitude and vulnerability of each case. He contends that the City Council has provided a document for them to sign in order to substantiate the local government’s provision of the resources available at the time. Consequently, he contends that three householder families have been overlooked, as they have been assigned to apartments that are provided by social organisations.
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Alicante port gets an electric boat for cleaning the water surface

A new contract for water surface cleaning services has been signed by the Port of Alicante, which includes a significant innovation in sustainability: the vessel responsible for these cleaning tasks is powered by electric propulsion.
This system is yet another illustration of the port’s environmental dedication, as it substantially mitigates the acoustic impact and polluting emissions that affect the port environment.
The primary vessel utilised for these tasks is outfitted with a 12-kilowatt continuous electric motor that has a propulsion capacity equivalent to a 25 HP combustion engine, thereby guaranteeing sustainable and efficient operation.
Two 48-5000 watt batteries and a 48-volt photovoltaic panel provide the Cruise 12.0 motor with an estimated autonomy of 10 hours of uninterrupted operation.
The Port of Alicante’s strategy of direct port activity towards a greener and more sustainable future is strengthened by the new contract for cleaning the water surface, which also enhances the efficacy of the service.
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