As part of a nationwide swoop on major drug cartels operating at national and international levels, at least 40 people were arrested in Majorca, while in total nearly 100 have been arrested across the country following raids on properties in Madrid, Burgos and Segovia in the north of Spain.
Here in Majorca, around 300 members of the Guardia Civil, a sizable number deployed from the mainland, took part in "Operation Iron Belt" which was put into motion at 5.30am this morning.
Forty-two properties were raided in Palma (the shanty town of Son Banya, Coll d’en Rebassa, Sant Jordi and S’Aranjassa) as well as in Llucmajor and Alcudia.
The Guardia Civil had not wanted to give any exact details about the quantity of drugs seized or the cash and other items confiscated because of the ongoing nature of the operation. But at 5pm this afternoon, Guardia sources in Madrid reported that the nationwide operation had involved the raiding of 115 properties and the detention of nearly 100 suspects; this figure is expected to rise.
Twenty-seven kilos of cocaine have been seized along with 45 kilos of hashish, two kilos of methamphetamine (a potent stimulant), 1.5 kilos of benzocaine (a local anaesthetic) and various quantities of heroin, ketamine (a medication mainly used for starting and maintaining anaesthesia), ecstasy and other drugs.
Six weapons were confiscated along with two boxes of ammunition as well as 300,000 euros in cash and twelve top-of-the-range vehicles.
The Guardia also reported that 127 bank accounts have been frozen after having noticed that some of the suspects had been transferring large sums of money from Spain to accounts in tax havens.
The investigation began some 17 months ago when the Guardia Civil detected a number of residents in the Balearics who were working closely with illegal criminal organisations in Holland. Most of the suspects are members of two infamous Balearic drug cartels.
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"The Guardia also reported that 127 bank accounts have been frozen after having noticed that some of the suspects had been transferring large sums of money from Spain to accounts in tax havens."Are you SURE that this isn't a report about our political class?
Great news on the brig goes Now get the hookers. Pimps and drug club and bar owners and the lookie lookie Ben with the tons of coke and the coke below the tins of coke
The link below is to Facebook "Calvia Crimewatch".
Good work. They're not always quite so efficient though, and this problem should be addressed properly, before we have riots in the streets and somebody get killed : htpps://facebook.com/groups/631898706965720/?fth=1