| Dear Olive Press readers, | | Welcome back to another week of the news in which I’ve tried hard to select some ‘happy positive’ news stories because I know that’s all some readers want to hear. | | Sometimes someone does something amazing and everyone gets a nice glow but, well, the most important stories generally don’t lean that way. And I haven’t tried that hard, either. | | Because we barely had time to publish the new '12 most wanted' list of British fugitives thought to be hiding out in Spain before one of them got busted. | | It could just be coincidence or it could be brilliant police work, but drug mule Simon Dutton was nabbed near Benidorm just hours after the appeal went live. | | It just goes to show that blending into the expat community on the costas isn't always the best way to lay low. These gangsters don’t seem to have the self-discipline to stay within the confines of their gated villas as they probably should. Eleven more to go. | | But the drug wars took a far more tragic turn further down the coast. The human cost of letting Spain turn into a narco haven became clearer when two Guardia Civil officers were killed in a high-speed pursuit off the Huelva coast last week. | | It’s not just the wages of human lives that the narcos extract, but the literal wages Guardia Civil and customers officers are paid to go to war with the traffickers. The footsoldiers earn just €1,600 a month. One politician referred to the officers’ deaths as a 'workplace accident' (later walked back). | | Something I’ve personally long known but now confirmed by Spanish authorities themselves – the Strait of Gibraltar is teeming with narco activity. A new study estimates there are over 600 narco speedboats operating in the area. | | We wrote this helpful article explaining what issues are dominating the agenda (apart from narco supremacy). As well as the usual housing and healthcare issues, one important topic to keep an eye on is this so-called ‘national priority’ policy, which could see expats disadvantaged in the future. | | And finally, I’m going to end this week’s newsletter on a positive note. I really am. The man who kicked his ex-partner’s cat to death in Torrevieja is being deported. Great news! | | The culprit, who we will go ahead and name — Andres Camilo Candela Pino – is a 29-year-old man who apparently was high on drugs when he did it. | | There’s nothing like wanton animal cruelty to mobilise the demos. Hundreds of people vented their fury and the authorities have since announced that he will be sent back to Colombia in exchange for avoiding a jail sentence. | | That’s the end of the news round up for this week. I’m sure some cats were rescued from some trees as well. | | As always, please get in touch with your thoughts, gripes, praise or incomprehensible ramblings as you see fit. | | | | Edificio Centro Comercial El Duque, first floor, Carretera N340, km 144.5 | | San Luis de Sabinillas, Malaga 29692, Spain | | Copyright © 2026 The Olive Press, All rights reserved. | | | |
| | | |
