Alicante (EFE).- The Police have arrested 22 members of a criminal group dedicated to drug trafficking, robberies of other drug traffickers and settling accounts that operated in Alicante.
These arrests culminate a long investigation of several months against drug trafficking in which two kilograms of cocaine, four kilos of hashish, another four of cutting substance, a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition, six vehicles and 4,170 euros have been seized.
They are also accused of the crimes of illegal possession of weapons, arson and reception, according to the Police in a statement.
The 22 detainees, 19 men and 3 women between the ages of 21 and 48 and of Spanish, Moroccan, Algerian and British nationalities, were placed at the disposal of the Benidorm Investigating Court.
THE INVESTIGATION BEGAN AFTER A FIRE
The police investigation began after an arson attack in a garage of a villa in Benidorm that affected several vehicles, the result of a settling of scores between rival groups of drug traffickers.
Some of the members of the group, which was perfectly structured, ran and worked in legal businesses and companies in order to mask their illegal activity.
In the course of the investigation, the agents learned of the commission by members of this criminal group of a robbery in a home belonging to other drug traffickers, in which they believed that there was drug stored, but they did not manage to locate the substance and in its place they stole several valuables and other effects among which was a semi-automatic pistol.
Some detainees planned to use third parties to introduce hidden narcotics into their bodies in different prisons, whose recipients were relatives of the detainees who were serving sentences.
THE DRUG LEFT SPAIN
The drugs that they stole from other drug trafficking groups were sold to third-party criminal organizations that were in charge of removing them from Spain with a final destination in other countries such as the United Kingdom, France or the Netherlands.
The Police have carried out eight house searches in the towns of Benidorm, Altea, Villajoyosa and Alfàs del Pi, in which two kilograms of cocaine, four kilograms of hashish and four kilograms of cutting substance have been seized.
They have also dismantled a marijuana plantation, and seized a 9mm semi-automatic pistol with ammunition, six vehicles and 4,170 euros in cash.