C.M.W. Maó25/01/10 0:00
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In the last decade the Balearic Islands have become the new gateway to Europe for drug traffickers, following increased vigilance in Andalucía, the previous point of entry. The narcotics are then transferred from Menorca, Mallorca and Ibiza to Valencia and Catalunya and later distributed to cities in Northern Europe, particularly in the Netherlands.

In 2008 the Balearic Parliament asked the State to increase coastal vigilance and to install radars on all the islands, not only to detect illicit drug trafficking but also illegal immigrants. After delays, the radar system should be functioning by the middle of this year.

Maó

The latest haul of drugs to be seized in Menorca by the police was discovered in a warehouse in Calle Binimaimut on the Maó Industrial Estate eleven days ago. Almost two and a half tons of hashish were stored there in small quantities, ready to be transferred to the Spanish mainland. The drugs are presumed to have been shipped from North Africa at the beginning of the month and stored in the 250 sq.m. warehouse which was rented in mid December by a Spaniard.

A 4-5 metre Zodiac, believed to have been used to ferry the shipment from a "supply ship" to the Menorcan coast, was also found on the premises together with a van, numerous mobile phones, GPS navigational instruments, large fuel containers and various items used to package the hashish for transport.

The drugs operation was co-ordinated by police officers from the mainland who had earlier seized 1,740 kgs. of hashish which had been hidden amongst the load on a lorry arriving in Barcelona by ferry from Menorca. Police officers were then deployed on the island to locate a van belonging to one of those arrested and two homes used by members of the gang (one in Es Castell and the other in Jardins de Malbúger in Maó). Police officers kept the suspects under surveillance for six days until they were ready to make arrests.

Four people were arrested, two of whom, L.C.V. and E.R.P., have been imprisoned whilst the others, V.C.L. and P.A.L., have been released after being charged. A fifth person was arrested outside Menorca.

All the accused are from Barcelona and their only link with the island would appear to be the setting up of a company as a front for their drugs operation.