Socialist Mayor of the village of Alcaucín in Málaga is among 13 people arrested in Spain’s latest corruption scandal.

Socialist Mayor of the village of Alcaucín in Málaga is among 13 people arrested in Spain’s latest corruption scandal.José Manuel Martín Alba, a labourer by trade, has been detained as investigations continue into the building and sale of homes on non-buildableland. Searches were carried out on Friday in the homes of the Mayor and members of his family.The PSOE Socialist party says they will expel all those indicted from the party.The 13 arrests occurred in Málaga and Huelva and also include the Mayor’s two daughters, and José Mora, chief of municipal architecture in the Dipitación de Málaga, the provincial government.Also detained are two architects and other constructors and alleged intermediaries.El Mundo says that the investigation could move to neighbouring La Viñuela, where the Socialist Mayor already faces different investigations on town planning irregularities.Many of the properties sold in the area, have been purchased by foreigners.

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Spanish authorities Tuesday said it dismantled an alleged Dominican drug trafficking network

Spanish authorities Tuesday said it dismantled an alleged Dominican drug trafficking network, in a Police operation that led to the arrest of 10 ten people, accused of trafficking cocaine from that Caribbean nation and "other Central American countries," to Spain, Scotland and Italy.A source said the operation began at the end of last year in Spain when Police uncovered a ring of "citizens from the Dominican Republic dedicated to introducing large amounts of cocaine in our country," from the Caribbean country, home to its ringleader, linked to Colombian narcotics traffickers. The detainees received the drugs from the Dominican Republic using packets hidden in their body and bought narcotics other criminal groups, to treat it and distribute afterwards from a house in Madrid’s Tetuan sector. The operation included six raids in which the Police seized cell phones, material to “cut” and treat the drug, vehicles, computers and electronic equipment, as well as a bit more than three kilos of cocaine.

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British man who is accused of beating another Briton to death in a house in Vista Mar I, Playa Flamenca, Orihuela Costa

29 year old accused, named as Dezzie S. will be back in court on Friday.The court case against the young British man who is accused of beating another Briton to death in a house in Vista Mar I, Playa Flamenca, Orihuela Costa, and then setting fire to the body and home to get rid of the evidence on January 4 2005, was postponed until Friday in Elche yesterday.The victim has been named as Roy John T.29 year old Dezzie S. faces a total of 36 years in prison for the crimes and attended the court yesterday but only to hear the magistrate suspend the proceedings because of the lack of witnesses.Prosecutors’ Office is demanding a 36 year prison sentence for a British man who is accused of setting a house fire, stealing a car, and beating another Briton to death in Orihuela Costa.The attacked happened on January 4 2005, when the 29 year old accused, named with the initials D.S., went to the victim’s house in Vista Mar I in Playa Flamenca.An argument turned into a fight and the accused is charged with beating the victim with a sharp object bursting his aorta and causing his death. Then, in an attempt to destroy evidence a fire was started of both the body and the house, with D.S. accused of leaving the scene in the victim’s car. Three days later he rented another car and drove back to Britain, failing to return the vehicle as agreed.The Prosecutor wants a total of 36 years for the charges and has requested the payment of 150,000 € to the wife of the victim and 200,000 € to each of his daughters.

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Landsbankis complex fraud involving 40 million euros has hit residents of Marbella on the Costa del Sol

Another complex fraud involving 40 million euros has hit residents of Marbella on the Costa del Sol .It involves an Icelandic Bank , and its Luxumbourg subsiduary plus a Luxumbourg Insurance Company . The case is being investigated by a San Roque court but the main losers are 100 Brits living in Marbella .The latter company has been denounced for deceitful publicity and fraud by a law firm which is representing 28 of the residents .Among those included in the legal action are three financial advisors , mainly to the British community .The people involved are mainly pensioners and those with high value properties .Financial advisors of the Icelandic bank began to sell a product which would guarantee the mortgage of the owner . It consisted of a mortgage on the property of around half a million euros and this was invested in financial products not only to pay off the mortgage but to give income as well .The clients were lured by the fact that it was self financing and had zero risk .It turned out that none of these things was true .They were also told that should the person die then it would reduce inheritance tax .The Spanish argument is that in Spanish law this is not possible and so therefore it is fraud .In fact such schemes had also been illegal in the Uk since 1990 .Under the terms of the Landsbank..Because of the fall of this Icelandic bank these people have no cover and are in danger of losing their homes .equity release scheme the policy holder could take 25% in cash and had to invest the rest in an investment company run by Landsbanki

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36 year prison sentence for a British man who is accused of setting a house fire, stealing a car, and beating another Briton to death in Orihuela

36 year prison sentence for a British man who is accused of setting a house fire, stealing a car, and beating another Briton to death in Orihuela Costa.The attacked happened on January 4 2005, when the 29 year old accused, named with the initials D.S., went to the victim’s house in Vista Mar I in Playa Flamenca.An argument turned into a fight and the accused is charged with beating the victim with a sharp object bursting his aorta and causing his death. Then, in an attempt to destroy evidence a fire was started of both the body and the house, with D.S. accused of leaving the scene in the victim’s car. Three days later he rented another car and drove back to Britain, failing to return the vehicle as agreed.The Prosecutor wants a total of 36 years for the charges and has requested the payment of 150,000 € to the wife of the victim and 200,000 € to each of his daughters. The case gets underway at 10am on Monday in the Seventh section of the Alicante Provincial Court in Elche.

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Las Maras, could be established in Spain within three years.

Civil Guard sergeant, who lived for a time in Honduras, has warned that a latin gang, more violent than the Latin Kings, called Las Maras, could be established in Spain within three years. Sergeant Pedro Gallego warned that the Latin Kings and the Ñetas, who used to have a higher presence in Spain were only ‘sleeping’ now, but would see a resurgence in activity as the economic crisis bites and youth unemployment rises. Members are attracted to join the gang because of its lifestyle, status and quick access to sex and drugs. Gallego has published a book with the conclusions of his study La Mara al Desnudo.
The book explains that the tattoos of the Mara gang members are important and represent secret codes between them. Dragons, tombs and sex scenes tattooed across the entire body are common place for the gang considered to be much more dangerous than the Sicilian Mafia or the Camorra from Naples.

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Costa Blanca Crime

Robbery took place last week in Callosa de Segura town centre when two armed men got away with almost 4000 euros .The robbery took place at a gas distribution centre .The men entered the offices wearing motorcycle helmets and threatening staff at gunpoint , telling them to empty the tills .The Guardia civil are investigating the incident .There has been an increase in crime of this type during the last few months .

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OFFICERS of the National Police have arrested six persons from Marbella, Alicante and Ibiza suspected of defrauding 70 businessmen and women

OFFICERS of the National Police have arrested six persons from Marbella, Alicante and Ibiza suspected of defrauding 70 businessmen and women by pretending to invest large sums of money in foreign companies in exchange of a profit share, and pocketing the administration and legal costs of these transactions; a figure that is estimated at four million euros.The investigation that lead to four Marbella residents and one from Ibiza and another from Alicante, was carried out by the Costa del Sol Organised Crime and Anti-drugs Unit. One of the four arrested from Marbella is thought to be the kingpin in this fraud ring. Four houses valued in excess of one million euros, 400,000 euros, several luxury vehicles and a large amount of documentation was seized by the authorities in this case where further arrests have not been ruled out.

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Torremolinos arrested fifteen people in connection to the sale of luxury stolen cars.

Guardia Civil, directed by the court in Torremolinos, has arrested fifteen people in connection to the sale of luxury stolen cars.
Ten of the group have already been sent to prison on remand, and one of them is accused of importing the stolen vehicles from Germany. Two were granted bail of 10,000 € and three were released.
Diario Sur reports that even more people are implicated in the network, and that it is a foreigner allegedly at the centre of the case.

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large-scale fraud on the London Stock Exchange Six people are arrested

Six people were arrested in Barcelona, Madrid and Alicante, accused of large-scale fraud on the London Stock Exchange, netting more than 450 euros. Behind the swindle were ex-Mossad agent, Abraham Hochman, and Diego Magin Selva, former adviser to the disgraced Spanish banker, Mario Conde.

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17 year old teen is still missing in Seville

17 year old teen is still missing in seville .She went missing on the 24th January after visiting friends .Her ex-bfriend gave her a lift almost to the door of the building in which she lived with her parents and two younger sisters .It is now thought that she mayhave entered the flat andd gone out again as her father is almost 100% certain the internet router was switched off when they went out but when he and the rest of the family returned in the evening it was turned on .There is a possibility that someone may have contacted her via the internet and that she went out again .She was seen by a neighbour outside the building where she lived at a time which coincided with the ex-boyfriend dropping her off that evening .
A massive poster campaign has been launched across Seville and other Andalucian provinces .In fact the scale of publicity about her disappearance is unprescedented .Her friends have set up a ” missing ” page on Tuenti , that has so far recorded 500,000 people supporting the campaign .Police are examining the family computer and forensic experts are also analysing telephone records in an attempt to find out who she had been communicating with on the internet .

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Guardia Civil officers arrested a known drug dealer in the town centre

Guardia Civil officers arrested a known drug dealer in the town centre .The man was approached by the police and as they did so he ran off into a nearby cafe .Officers followed him and did a search when they discovered a small quantity of cocaine in his pocket .As they were about to arrest him a fracas broke out in the bar and the man once again ran off into the kitchen , dropping a box in the process .The box was found to contain bags of a white powder which were later confirmed as being cocaine .A search of the kitchen unearthed more drugs and some gold rings .The police also confiscated a very large machete style hunting knife , over 2000 euros , a mobile phone , more white powder .The white powder was not cocaine but possibly something which was used to cut the cocaine .

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Torrevieja crime in broad daylight

Torrevieja a man had parked his car in the town centre for only five minutes and the thieves attacked .They were well organised and had look outs on bicycles .When the time was right the car window was smashed and the CD player and and CD’s were stolen .Passers by saw it all happen and understandably did nothing .One never knows these days when there is a knife waiting to be used .The thieves were thought to be Russian .This man had experienced another daylight robbery only weeks before when his mobile phone was stolen from under his nose in his business place .It is clear that thieves are hanging around looking for a chance to steal from unsuspecting victims .Is it the credit crunch or the economic climate which causes people to behave in this way or are they just normal criminals ? When people do not have enough to feed themselves or their families then they will steal , in fact that is what most of us would do in similar circumstances , it is called survival .

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last week a judge in Madrid had granted a warrant to arrest Ian Donaldson 30-year-old amateur racing driver from Paisley.

Ian Donaldson spent last Saturday night with pals in Glasgow's Karbon club, despite being the subject of an international arrest warrant. "He had a team of pals with him and didn't seem to have a care in the world. "He certainly didn't look like a man who is wanted by the police across Europe. "It's puzzling as to why the police in Scotland haven't arrested him." Donaldson - once cleared of a gangland kidnap - faces drugs and money-laundering charges in Spain. The Spanish authorities have already confiscated eight properties, a Lamborghini supercar and a yacht belonging to him in Tenerife as part of a major operation, which has seen the seizure of £12million of alleged criminal assets. A Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency spokeswoman said: "This is a matter for the Spanish authorities."

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Amy Fitzpatrick disappeared on the evening of New Year’s Day 1st January 2008

Amy Fitzpatrick disappeared on the evening of New Year’s Day 1st January 2008 at approximately 10pm when she left her friend’s house in the tourist resort of Riviera Del Sol on the Costa del Sol to take the 10 minute walk home.

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Pancake the scouser, and is involved in drug trafficking and carrying out assassinations in Málaga province

Violent British gang which has been carrying out extortion of local businessmen on the Costa del Sol has been linked to several shooting incidents.The group is known as ‘Pancake’, because it is allegedly led by the known British criminal referred to as ‘Pancake the scouser’, and is involved in drug trafficking and carrying out assassinations in Málaga province. Most of the members are originally from Liverpool and Manchester.La Opinión de Málaga reports that the group controlled four houses in Urbanisation Jacaranda in Mijas, and that there are at least five members known to the authorities.The shooting at Nikki Beach last year has been linked to the gang which is under investigation by the UDYCO, organized crime and drug unit of the police. Several witnesses at the scene identified ‘Pancake the Scouser’ as the shooter there last summer.The gang is also linked to the Puerto Banús shooting last summer and to the shooting of an Irishman at the Aloha Garden bar.

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Robbed 1.5 million € from a businessman at the doors of a bank in Alicante.

Five men and two women, all from Argentina, and with criminal records back home, have been arrested for taking 1.5 million € from a businessman at the doors of a bank in Alicante.The police say that the group had been following the businessman for two months and had tried to rob him on another two occasions without success.Finally they took 1.5 million € at gunpoint from the footwear entrepreneur just as he was about to pay in the cash to the bank.National Police spokesman, Blas García, explained that the robbery happened on December 15 in the San Gabriel area of the city. He said the organisers of the gang are a father and son who are very well known in Alicante as a furniture restorer and motorbike mechanic.Others arrested face money laundering charges. Five searches have been carried out and 290,000 € of the money has been recovered and three cars, motorbikes and a firearm have been impounded. It’s thought the group were trying to purchase a property on the beach for 300,000 € but the deal apparently was not completed.

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17 year old Marta del Castillo, who vanished from Sevilla nine days ago

Eva Casanueva, the mother of the 17 year old Marta del Castillo, who vanished from Sevilla nine days ago, has spent most of that time in bed just waiting for news. On Monday she made the effort to attend to the questions of the media. There are no firm clues to go on, although rumours that the boy who said he dropped Marta off at her home on the Saturday night is under suspicion. An expert dog has indicated that the clues may be in the Triana part of the city, where Marta spent Saturday afternoon with friends before she disappeared.Meanwhile her uncle, Javier Casanueva, who is acting as family spokesman, has complained to the press that neither the Prime Minister, nor the Minister for the Interior have called the family.

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‘Latin King’ gang have been arrested in Orihuela

Four Ecuadorians aged between 15 and 23 have been arrested in Orihuela for allegedly being members of the ‘Latin King’ gang. Among those arrested is the man thought to be the leader of the organisation in the province, a 21 year old.The arrests come after a complaint to police from a Uruguayan youngster who said he had been beaten up several times by the gang. Four homes have been searched in the town, and documents and other items impounded. More arrests have not been ruled out.

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Spanish Internet Users Paying Extortionate Prices

The Spanish Association of Internet Users has made a formal complaint with regard to the slowing growth rate of ADSL and cable connections within the country, calling for price reductions. It went on to say that as such an affluent source of revenue and potential economic growth it feels that universal access to the web should be sustained by public money.

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