14 May, 2024 @ 19:26
1 min read

Marbella shootings latest: Police say two incidents were attempted drug heists by rival narco gangs as they declare cases ‘solved’

TWO shootings in the recent spate of narco violence plaguing Marbella have been solved, according to the Policia Nacional.

One of the incidents occurred in the early hours of 2 April in the once-peaceful Los Naranjos urbanisation in Nueva Andalucia. 

A 21-year-old man was shot in the knee and pelvis after a struggle in which two individuals attempted to steal a bag from a third person thought to contain a drug stash. 

Video of the grisly attack circulated on social media.

READ MORE: Brit and Irishman suspected of shooting up a Marbella restaurant report themselves to the courts – these are their new bail conditions

One of the Albanian nationals arrested as part of Operation Mezquita brought about by the shooting in Guadalmina on April 13

The attack led to the Marbella Organised Crime Unit to initiate ‘Operation Orange’. 

The investigation, initially suspected to involve a drug heist gone wrong, saw three individuals – including the alleged shooter – arrested on 7 May. 

One of the suspects was also wanted under a European Arrest Warrant issued by French authorities for involvement in organised crime. 

Police seized a pistol with a silencer, two fake guns, nine kilograms of marijuana, three tracking devices, €21,000 in cash, and a balaclava during seven house searches across Malaga, Mijas, and Marbella.

A similar but seemingly unrelated shooting took place on 13 April in a commercial centre in Guadalmina. The gunshot victim had been meeting another individual when a violent dispute broke out.

The second man opened fire and shot his associate ten times, riddling his body with bullets. 

The victim survived thanks to the quick intervention of an off-duty doctor who applied a tourniquet at the scene.

READ MORE: Marbella shooting latest: Victim, 33, is from Albania and received multiple wounds in yet another gangland incident in Guadalmina

Another detainee arrested in Operation Mezquita

Two Albanian nationals were arrested in Seville on May 3 as part of a multi-jurisdictional investigation called ‘Operation Mezquita’. 

The alleged shooter has a criminal history, including kidnapping and illegal possession of weapons. Another individual, accused of arranging the meeting where the shooting occurred, was also detained.

A third suspect, a Colombian national, was caught in Madrid on 8 May, suspected of aiding the shooters’ escape.

During this second operation, police conducted three house searches, seizing €12,000, several mobile phones, and documents relevant to the investigation. 

The suspects, two of whom are now in provisional custody, face charges of attempted murder, membership of a criminal organisation, illegal possession of firearms, and forgery.

Walter Finch

Walter Finch, who comes from a background in video and photography, is keen on reporting on and investigating organised crime, corruption and abuse of power. He is fascinated by the nexus between politics, business and law-breaking, as well as other wider trends that affect society.
Born in London but having lived in six countries, he is well-travelled and worldly. He studied Philosophy at the University of Birmingham and earned his diploma in journalism from London's renowned News Associates during the Covid era.
He got his first break in the business working on the Foreign News desk of the Daily Mail's online arm, where he also helped out on the video desk.
He then decided to escape the confines of London and returned to Spain in 2022, having previously lived in Barcelona for many years.
He took up up a reporter role with the Olive Press Newspaper and today he is based in La Linea de la Concepcion at the heart of a global chokepoint and crucial maritime hub, where he edits the Olive Press Gibraltar edition.
He is also the deputy news editor across all editions of the newspaper.

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