The National Police of Elche have arrested five people—three men and two women—aged 35 to 50 years old. They were involved in drug trafficking in numerous municipalities of the Vega Baja, with Torrevieja and Almoradí being the most important.
The National Police say they had six flats set up for distribution, which they utilised to store and distribute drugs in a smart way.
Taken into custody
The people who were arrested were members of a criminal group that used cars and homes to sell cocaine and other drugs to local dealers. The same sources say that the group worked in four towns: Almoradí, Catral, Daya Nueva, and Rojales.
As part of the operation, six raids happened at the same time, and they were planned so that evidence wouldn’t be destroyed or the suspects wouldn’t be able to get away. During these raids, police seized more than 4.5 kilogrammes of cocaine, which is a lot for a network like this. They also found one kilogramme of ecstasy pills, 16 grammes of MDMA powder, €14,000 in cash spread out across the homes, and six precision scales, which are tools that are often used to package drugs and sell them.
They also took a lot of plastic wrappers, resealable bags, and other things that are used to package drugs for sale.
The National Police started looking into the case after getting allegations that a number of people were frequently selling drugs in the same places in Torrevieja and Almoradí. The officers figured out that this was a network that connected bigger suppliers with local distribution networks.
The investigators broadened their investigation and were able to find out about the involvement of other members and uncover six important properties in Rojales, Daya Nueva, and Almoradí.
The officers asked for and got permission from a judge to do the searches because they had enough proof that criminal behaviour was still going on. During these operations, the cops saw that the drugs were hidden in a very clever way: they were recovered in several places inside the homes.
A butane cylinder that had been changed to look like a concealed compartment was found in one of the residences in Rojales. This device had a hidden screw-on lid that let people put in and take out packed parcels without anyone noticing. It was taken apart and emptied of gas.
“Caleta” is the word for the camouflaged hiding spots that drug trafficking groups employ, often in residences or cars. Finding them demands specialised knowledge and careful inspection methods.
The courts
Police took the five people who were being held to their headquarters to be identified and questioned. After that, they were taken to the duty magistrate in Torrevieja. The judge ordered three of them to be held in pretrial detention after looking at the evidence of their active participation and the risk of them fleeing or destroying evidence. The other two were let off on bond with charges still pending and the requirement to appear in court every so often.
Author: Derek Appleton
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