Investigation closes down

THE Guardia Civil has shut down a criminal enterprise that was growing, preparing and trafficking drugs and allegedly responsible for other crimes against property. The criminals were selling drugs around the province and sending marihuana abroad. More than 150 Guardia Civil officers from Alicante were involved.

The police raided 21 premises and made 19 arrests, seizing €70,000 in cash, seven vehicles, several firearms, more than 600 marihuana plants, and different quantities of cocaine and hashish, as well as IT equipment and jewellery.

Many of the assets seized are thought to be linked to a recent crime wave in the town.

The drug sales came to the Guardia Civil’s attention some months ago, and an investigation ­ Operation Lake 33 ­ began under the court’s authorisation in Denia. Early on February 21, officers and dogs moved in, arresting 17 men and two women aged between 18 and 62 years of different nationalities.

Fourteen of them were in Teulada Moraira, two in Benissa and the rest in Senija, Adsubia, Elche and San Fulgencio.

Blue flag

MORE than 100 hiking trails in Spain received the prestigious Blue Trail Flag award at a national environmental conference held in Santiago on Friday, February 24.

The honour was presented to trails judged by the Association for Environmental Education (Adeac) to offer outstanding heritage and natural beauty credentials.

In this year’s event 104 awards were handed out to trails in 20 different provinces and 10 autonomous communities throughout the countries. The selected trails cover a distance of more than 600 kilometres of countryside, giving walkers plenty of inspiration for new routes this year.

The northern region of Galicia received the most awards in total, home to 35 of the 104 selected trails.