Spanish police charged with bribery and embezzlement in Costa del Crime
Dubbed the "Costa del Crime", it was notorious as a haven for "retired" British gangsters who wanted to stay beyond the long arm of the law. But now it seems the Costa del Sol has proved as attractive for unscrupulous Spanish police officers as British criminals.
Four inspectors from an elite unit that combats organised crime in Malaga have been charged with bribery, embezzlement, dereliction of duty, ownership of illegal arms, and revealing confidential information.
Alfredo Marijuán and Carlos Farré have been detained in custody and Isaac Pacheco Suárez and Eusebio Vázquez Fernández were released on bail.
Forty officers have been questioned in connection with the case, which relates to alleged payments received by Inspector Marijuán from Russian nationals for reports on police surveillance operations.
The officer was also alleged to have delivered an envelope containing details about the girlfriend of a Russian who was arrested for cocaine smuggling in the US.
The Costa del Sol gained its nickname after British criminals took advantage of the ending of an extradition treaty in 1978 to escape Scotland Yard's reach.
The likes of Ronnie Knight and the drug dealer Clifford Saxe, both wanted in connection with a Security Express robbery in east London, set up home there. Kenneth Noye, who helped to launder the Brink's-Mat gold, fled to the Costa del Sol in 1996 while on the run for murder.
More recently, however, it has become the base for a more dangerous breed of gang, from the UK, Russia, Colombia and eastern Europe.
The Russian mafia are known to have a major presence on the Costa del Sol, exploiting lax property laws and lack of police resources to launder millions from arms dealing, drug dealing and prostitution.
A Spanish interior ministry report said nearly a third of organised crime in Spain is based in the area, with 102 known gangs.
Three years ago, Spain launched a major crackdown there, forming specialised units to combat the problem.
Dubbed the "Costa del Crime", it was notorious as a haven for "retired" British gangsters who wanted to stay beyond the long arm of the law. But now it seems the Costa del Sol has proved as attractive for unscrupulous Spanish police officers as British criminals.
Four inspectors from an elite unit that combats organised crime in Malaga have been charged with bribery, embezzlement, dereliction of duty, ownership of illegal arms, and revealing confidential information.
Alfredo Marijuán and Carlos Farré have been detained in custody and Isaac Pacheco Suárez and Eusebio Vázquez Fernández were released on bail.
Forty officers have been questioned in connection with the case, which relates to alleged payments received by Inspector Marijuán from Russian nationals for reports on police surveillance operations.
The officer was also alleged to have delivered an envelope containing details about the girlfriend of a Russian who was arrested for cocaine smuggling in the US.
The Costa del Sol gained its nickname after British criminals took advantage of the ending of an extradition treaty in 1978 to escape Scotland Yard's reach.
The likes of Ronnie Knight and the drug dealer Clifford Saxe, both wanted in connection with a Security Express robbery in east London, set up home there. Kenneth Noye, who helped to launder the Brink's-Mat gold, fled to the Costa del Sol in 1996 while on the run for murder.
More recently, however, it has become the base for a more dangerous breed of gang, from the UK, Russia, Colombia and eastern Europe.
The Russian mafia are known to have a major presence on the Costa del Sol, exploiting lax property laws and lack of police resources to launder millions from arms dealing, drug dealing and prostitution.
A Spanish interior ministry report said nearly a third of organised crime in Spain is based in the area, with 102 known gangs.
Three years ago, Spain launched a major crackdown there, forming specialised units to combat the problem.
Source: Guardian
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