“How beautiful freedom is, how beautiful freedom is!” To the rhythm of songs and dances, the families of the 33 detainees of the police macro-operation against the drug houses of Cullera Street in Madrid, celebrated at the doors of the courthouse of the Plaza de Castilla that the magistrate of the Court of Instruction number 37 of Madrid decreed provisional release with precautionary measures for all.
In concrete terms, these people are free while awaiting trial for having committed an offence against public health. But they will have a 700 restraining order meters of said properties on Cullera Street, they will have to sign in court every 7 days and their passports will be taken away, since they are prohibited from leaving the national territory.
As stated Europe Pressthe prisoners, who served the maximum of 72 hours at the police stationwere taken into custody yesterday Monday morning, and were released in the afternoon.
Major police operation
From 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. last Friday, a total of 288 motorized agents of the National Police were deployed, on foot, on horseback and with dogs, from the police units of the Canine Guides, the Cavalry, the UIP and the UPR, the Scientific Police and the Narcotics Group. which ended with 33 prisoners and various quantities of various narcotic substances seized.
The aim of the police operation was to put an end to this controversial, controlled drug hotbed by the Jimenez gypsy clanconcentrated in about twenty apartments located between numbers 14 and 16 of this street in the Madrid neighborhood of Latina, its surroundings and in a chalet in the Calypo Fado urbanization in the Toledan municipality of Casarrubios del Monte.
In addition, municipal agents of Madrid and the Addiction Treatment Center (CAD) of the Latina neighborhood collaborated, in what is considered the the heroin sales point the most important in the capital today.
The result, besides the prisoners, was the intervention of nearly three kilos of cocaine prepared for salein addition to other quantities of heroin and other drugs. Likewise, the police seized several knives and shared cash, police sources told Europa Press.
Months of tension
On Monday morning, a 55-year-old drug addict died of heart failure at the gates of one of these drug floors.Several units of the National Police went to the scene, while a major unrest broke out in the area.
Relatives of the deceased, of gypsy origin and residents of the Caño Roto area, went to the scene and blamed the drug dealers in the area for the death. “One of us for one of yours,” they shouted, swearing revenge and promising “burn the building”, indicated to Europe Press eyewitnesses.
The residents of the neighborhood have been complaining for some time about the situation of the drug apartments and what it means for the Lucero neighborhood. The Lucero Neighborhood Association has addressed the three administrations to demand a 24-hour police presence in the neighborhood, the recovery of these squatted apartments on Cullera Street, which first belonged to IVIMA and then sold to individuals.
Neighbors have reported an increase in drug storage and trafficking in apartments in several portals on Cullera Street and surrounding areas, as well as constant intimidation of neighbors and a physical deterioration of the portals, elevators and stairs. The city council has promised to install CCTV cameras in the area next year.
Four years ago, the same area was subject to another big police raid against drug trafficking. On this occasion, 10 drug sales points were dismantled and around thirty individuals were arrested. Now, the residents of the neighborhood do not want the problem to recur over the months.
In June, the Professional College of Criminology of the Community of Madrid (CPCM) presented to the Government Delegate in Madrid, Francisco Martín, and also sent to the City Council of the capital, a detailed protocol of global action to combat the “narcos” of the Lucero neighborhood and the insecurity they generate.
