The National Police dismantled a black spot for cocaine sales in Altea (Alicante), who used a home textiles store as a cover to launder money. The operation resulted in the arrest of three people, including the main suspect, a 42-year-old man with a criminal record.
The investigation began following information obtained by the National Police, which detected suspicious activity linked to cocaine trafficking. The main person involved, a man who ran a textile goods storeused this location as a front to justify illicit revenues from drug sales.
The business was not the primary outlet for cocaine sales, as transactions occurred primarily near the suspect’s home, which operated in a known and controlled environment.
During the proceedings, the National Police discovered that the detainee was using his home and additional rooms as “daycare” of substances, where he stored the cocaine, dosing tools and money from sales. The distribution circle was made up of people he trusted and deliveries were made with security measures to avoid detection by the police.
In the operational phase of the operation, the National Police intervened both at the suspect’s home and in the textile establishment. At the home, 5,050 euros in cash, 410 grams of cocaine, as well as precision scales and equipment for packaging medicines were seized. The inspection of the premises, also carried out by police officers attached to the Valencian Community, revealed the use of the company for purposes launder the profits obtained through substance trafficking. 410 euros in cash and sheets with handwritten notes detailing large sums of money were found, which reinforced the hypothesis of money laundering.
Commerce, in additionoperated without opening authorization and without respecting minimum safety standards. The employee did not have an employment contract, which is another violation discovered during the inspection. The store, more than a point of sale, functioned as a mechanism to conceal the suspect’s true sources of income, presenting an appearance of legality.
The National Police also verified that the detainee used three vehicles for his operations, none of them in his name. Two of them intervened because they were linked to the crime. The suspect thus tried to divert the attention of the police so as not to be discovered.
During the operation, police arrested the main suspect from Altea, who was carrying more than 3,500 euros in cash. In addition, two buyers were arrested, one aged 39 and the other 45, to whom the main suspect had each supplied more than 10 grams of cocaine for distribution. In total, the operation led to the seizure of 431 grams of cocaine and 9,050 euros in cash.
The three detainees, all of Spanish nationality and two of them with criminal backgrounds, were placed at the disposal of the Guardia investigating court in Benidorm. They are under investigation for being the alleged perpetrators of a drug trafficking crime.
Fight against drug trafficking
The National Police reminds citizens of the importance of collaboration in the fight against drug trafficking and other crimes that affect the security of our communities. Anonymous reporting is a fundamental tool for this type of crime, as it allows action to be taken quickly and effectively.
Anyone with information on criminal activities can do so anonymously and confidentially via the official website of the National Police in the “Collaborate” section. In addition, it is recalled that formal complaints can be filed both online and in physical National Police stations, always guaranteeing the protection of the identity of the complainant.
