The Guardia Civil has dismantled two important distribution centres of heroin and cocaine, among other forms of narcotics, thus putting an end to a criminal activity that was causing a rise in crime in the area.
The investigation, which forms part of Operation Peka, was started last February by the Torrevieja Main Police Station following an increase in petty crime in two specific districts of the town. Facing this scenario, the officers conducted an in-depth examination of the illegal activity, succeeding in finding the origin of the problem.
The inquiry indicated there were a number of crimes in the area of two drug dealing sites, including thefts, break-ins, robberies and burglaries. Many of the perpetrators were users who committed these crimes to get items that they then exchanged for doses of heroin and cocaine.
The two outlets of sale were in different parts of the municipality working in coordination, acting as distribution centres and becoming supply standards throughout the Vega Baja region.
Safety measures
One of these places had advanced security measures to hinder police action, including lookouts who were to alert about police presence, armoured doors with reinforced locking systems, surveillance cameras and handguns in the possession of the person in charge, to protect the illicit activity from possible actions of rival groups.
Following a thorough inquiry and as soon as the facts were confirmed, two house searches were conducted on April 10. The operation was conducted by the Reserve and Security Group (GRS) No. 3 from Valencia and the Citizen Security Unit of the Command (USECIC) in Torrevieja.
Arrests
After the operation, 17 members of the criminal network were detained, 14 males and three women aged between 23 and 63 years old including the boss, a 55-year-old man located in the town.
They are accused of drug trafficking, unlawful possession of weapons, receiving stolen items, and membership in a criminal group, and were involved to varying degrees.
The Court of First Instance of Torrevieja Investigating Section has ordered the pre-trial detention of the primary individual accountable for the investigated events.
The agents also seized a short firearm and a blank-firing gun, 68 grams of cocaine, 35 grams of heroin, 17 grams of hashish, 8 grams of marijuana, one gram of pink cocaine, 9,700 euros in cash, two cars, and various objects related to criminal activity, including scooters that had been previously reported stolen.
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