Over 20 arrests as police bust massive cocaine ring


National Police seized 34 kilos of cocaine and more than 200,000 euros in cash in a series of searches carried out as part of an operation to dismantle a drug organization also said to be involved in cockfighting.
National Police have dealt a massive blow to a network of drug traffickers that operated in Alicante and Murcia with the arrest of at least 22 people, the dismantling of a cocaine laboratory in a warehouse in Almoradí and the seizure of 34 kilos of cocaine, more than 200,000 euros in cash and a quantity weapons. The drugs, cash and guns were uncovered during several searches carried out across the Vega Baja and Aspe, as well as in the Murcian towns of Molina de Segura and Águilas.
The operation was headed up by the Drugs and Organized Crime Unit (central UDYCO) with collaboration of the Police units from Orihuela, Alicante and Murcia.
Alleged to be the head of the criminal organisation is a man known to police as El Chato. The suspected crime boss lives in a chalet on the outskirts of Aspe and is known to local security forces for alleged cockfighting and drug trafficking. However, sources close to the investigation indicated that never before has El Chato been found with such a quantity of drugs.
Police revealed they turned El Chato’s property upside down during the search – he was not at home at the time of the operation. Officers found more than 12 kilos of cocaine buried in the area where he housed his roosters. His partner and another relative were arrested during the raid early on Wednesday morning. The latter was said to be carrying a shotgun when police arrived.
The cocaine laboratory was discovered in a warehouse in Almoradí, where police seized more than 16 kilos of cocaine as well as chemicals used in the cutting process.
Police also conducted searches in Albatera, Águilas and Molina de Segura. In the Region of Murcia they arrested at least two more people, one with half a kilo and another with five kilos of a substance that tested positive for cocaine.
Those arrested were all brought to appear in front of a judge in Orihuela. 14 were freed; seven were sent to prison without bail while the alleged gang leader’s wife was released with bail.