Second large cocaine haul: 24 arrested in Algeciras

(Agencies) Twenty-four suspects were arrested this week in an anti-drugs operation linked to the port in Algeciras, according to news reports. The total haul amounted to 213 kilos of pure cocaine coming in shipments of  bananas from Guayaquil, Ecuador. Thirteen of the suspects worked at Algeciras port and included stevedores, crane and forklift operators and security guards. At a press conference held at the Guardia Civil command in Cádiz, it was revealed that the operation began its investigation in November last year and officers assigned to the operation also seized 26 vehicles and €42,000 in cash. Documentation relating to a number of un-named companies, apparently registered in Gibraltar, is being scrutinised at present.>

The gang, headed by a man from Estepona under the nickname of Nico, was paid €15,000 per off-load, according to other sources. The modus operandi had Nico being advised by his South American contacts of shipments that included the cocaine, whereupon he would identify the appropriate containers to his 'port workers', who would open it, remove the illegal contents for later distribution among a network of accomplices up and down the coast, and change the Customs seals.

Included among the arrested are people from the Campo de Gibraltar (Sotogrande, San Roque, La Línea and Los Barrios). The Guardia Civil also stated that one of the suspects had over 100 mobile phones in his name, and another possessed 20 luxury vehicles.

This latest is the second large haul of cocaine reported by Spain’s security this week. The Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday that another important consignment of the drug, 228 kilos of cocaine, had been discovered hidden amongst a cargo of bananas at the port in Sagunto, Valencia, which had also been imported from Ecuador. Twelve suspects were arrested in that operation.