C.M.W.
Maó
The "Operation Sobrasada" against a gang which was smuggling drugs into Menorca using a furniture removal company has now been closed, following the arrest of the gang leader in Barberà del Vallès and 20 other people.
The case was opened in March last year after an increase in drugs, especially cocaine, was noted on the island. As a result of police investigations a married Spanish couple, F.M.M. and B.Y.L., was arrested in Ferreries in May with 720 gms. of cocaine, drug handling equipment, three vehicles and a motorbike, 10 mobile phones and 15,000 euros in cash.
In mid-July a further shipment of 2 kgs. of cocaine was seized and two more people were arrested, one a resident in Ferreries (J.M.A., the 'mule') and the other (O.N.M.) in Es Mercadal.
November saw the arrest of the head of the gang in Menorca, a resident in Alaior (P.P.R.), and his Italian girlfriend (A.K.) together with a Ferreries resident (F.B.R.) who worked for the furniture company and D.F.M., a Ciutadella resident.
On 9th June this year F.M.F., a resident in Cerdanyola, was arrested while trying to smuggle into the island 2.3 kgs. of cocaine hidden in his car. This arrest was the key to opening up the case and resulted in 11 further arrests amongst whom were the new heads of the organisation on the island, C.G.M. and J.R.G.M., both resident in Ciutadella.
The others arrested, who had collaborated in handling, hiding and distributing the drugs, were: M.V.C, J.M.U.F., D.G.M. and S.B.G. (an Icelander) all of whom were resident in Maó; J.C.M. and two Argentinians S.D.R.G. and M.M.R. who lived in Sant Lluís; and T.E.C.M. whose address is not known.
During the course of the investigation, police have seized 13.66 kgs. of cocaine and 22.78 kgs. of hashish, the street value of which is just over one million euros, 14 vehicles, over 15,000 euros in cash together with computers and mobile phones.