Saturday 2 April 2011

16 arrests and over a ton of hashish in Barbate operation

BARBATE (Agencies) The Guardia Civil's Operación Desierto resulted in 16 alleged members of a drug dealing gang arrested and the confiscation of 1,200 kilos of hashish resin. The operation began last month when the GC got wind of a delivery being planned on the coast between Barbate and Zahara de los Atunes. The information had GC agents in uniform and in civvies on watch of the area the night of March 21. Sure enough, at about midnight, they began to see vehicles moving about suspiciously. Some of the vehicles were well known to the watchers, as their owners had been under surveillance for some time before that. A little after this, they heard the sound of marine engines approaching the coast with no lights. They let the boats reach shore at the beach known as Botero (photo).>The gang began unloading the goods without realizing how closely they were being watched. The bales of hash were being taken to a venta nearby.

With enough evidence in hand, the GC pounced on the gang amid their work. 11 arrests, a zodiac type speed boat and six vehicles were the result. Further investigation rvealed the connection to the gang of another five members with several different roles in the gang, who were also apprehended. There are 14 Spaniards and 2 Moroccans now 'at the disposal of the courts'.

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