80 PEOPLE have been arrested in Benidorm for drug trafficking in a massive police sweep of bars and clubs in the city’s so-called English Zone.
The operation was carried out over two nights in late March and previously reported, but full details were only officially disclosed on Monday.
The detainees, aged between 18 and 82 years old, have been bailed after giving statements.
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No nationalities have been revealed by authorities.
Proceedings for drug trafficking and belonging to a criminal gang will be handled by a Benidorm court.
Other infractions committed by seven businesses included excess capacity, lack of compulsory insurance, non-compliance with evacuation measures, arbitrary and discriminatory exercise of the right of admission, and selling tobacco to minors.
Investigations are continuing as one of the main suspects has so far eluded arrest.
Seized items included over €32,000 in cash, 40 walkie-talkies, 16 mobile phones, six pepper sprays, a knuckle-duster, and two magnetic boxes for the concealment of drugs.
Narcotics included 23 grams of cocaine, two grams of ecstasy, 63 grams of cutting substances and two grams of marijuana.
Among those arrested were two brothers who run several leisure establishments in Benidorm.
Two other brothers with no familial connection to the duo, controlled all the security and public relations of the various premises.
The March operation was part of various raids carried out this year by the Benidorm Policia Local and the Policia Nacional.
Quantities of drugs were seized from multiple consumers who bought them in premises that were investigated in the area.
Customers were given details about the ‘exact place’ where they could buy drugs in the premises and the people to see to obtain them, including waiters.
A series of interventions were carried out at business entrances and in the vicinity of venues due to fighting breaking out where several people were arrested for causing injuries.
Several bladed weapons such as machetes and knives, as well as blunt objects, were used during the assaults.
In a statement, the Policia Nacional, said that one of the most serious incidents during the probe involved the ‘coercion and harassment of several Policia Local officers by multiple people involved in running the businesses’.
The behaviour was prompted by previous inspections, arrests and seizures that had been carried out in venues.
The actions were coordinated and directed by two of the main suspects, who had multiple criminal records for offences including drug trafficking.
The set of establishments were an ‘important black point for the sale of drugs’, according to the Policia Nacional.
The detainees positioned themselves in such a way that they controlled the passage of the public roads to try and interfere with the police.
They even assigned code names as to whether uniformed or plain clothes officers were in the vicinity and whether they were Policia Nacional or Benidorm police officers.
Warnings were relayed via walkie-talkies to close or open doors of various premises to stop the police from observing any illegalities inside.
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