ISSUE 643 • 29th June - 5th July 2018
EST 2005
United as one Photo credit Animali/Shutterstock
By Jimmy Grayling ANIMAL charities in Almeria have joined forces to form a new federation. The new group, dubbed ANIMALI, will work together to crack down on the shocking number of abandonment and cruelty cases blighting the province. It comes in the face of administrative obstacles and a lack of resources at the local level, leading 15 local groups staf fed largely by volunteers to
Chinese takeaway
FELINE UNWANTED: Animal abandonment is rife in Almeria. team up in the hope of sparking change and influencing policy with their larger collective voice.
Blackout ENVIRONMENTAL group Ecologists In Action has handed every coastal municipality in Almeria except Nijar and Balanegra a black flag award. The green organisation says that a lack of effective waste management including agricultural spills, unregulated dumping and insuf ficient sewage treatment, especially in the Poniente Almeriense’s ‘sea of plastic’ has destroyed wetlands and polluted once-pristine marine habitats. And two areas - Ribera de la Algaida near Roquetas de Mar and the beaches surrounding the industrial zone in Carboneras - have been listed among the 48 most polluted coastal stretches in Spain, far exceeding European Union regulations, according to the group’s report.
The federation currently includes Adopt a Friend, Dupont Alondra, Alma Felina, ALMA-Almeria La Manada, APA New Life, APSA Animal Protection Society of Albox, Helping Animals Almanzora, PROMAR, Puppy RescueRescue of Puppies and Saving Lives, plus those in the processing phase: Almeria Animal Defense, Animals in Trouble, Kat Squad, Paws-Pata and Sevenlives. Among the group’s main aims is sterilising
feral cats and improving public education regarding animal welfare. In a statement ANIMALI confirmed that several private individuals have also signed up as members, adding: “We welcome all those who have a passion to improve animal rights. “The Animalist Federation of Almeria - ANIMALI - needs a strong and united animal rights movement by and for the animals that need and await us.”
INVESTIGATORS have held 121 suspects in connection with a major drugs and prostitution racket across Almeria, Castilla–La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Madrid and Extremadura. The arrests took place as armed Guardia Civil and National Police officers raided 88 addresses in the wake of a lengthy probe into the gang’s activities. Most of the alleged members are Chinese and the mob is accused of smuggling cannabis and designer drugs to the UK, Belgium and Italy in addition to sexual exploitation, forgery, extortion and robbery with violence. During the investigation detectives found the cabal were exporting an average of 500 kilos of cannabis per week and had raked in at least €140 million through the plot. But the organisation was divided into six cells, with splinter groups separately responsible for selling synthetic drugs bought in the Netherlands within Spain, acting as loan sharks extorting Chinese businesses, selling counterfeit fashion products, robbery and pimping illegally registered women, respectively. More than 40,000 cannabis plants, almost two tonnes of prepared buds, guns, 16 luxury cars and €275,000 in cash was seized during the swoops.