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THE INDEPENDENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER WITH LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS
FRIDAY 10th MARCH TO THURSDAY 23rd MARCH 2017 TV GUIDE
PAGES 25 -32
MOVIES AT ...
EDITION 571 PAGES 49 -56
FORTNIGHTLY SUPPLEMENT F
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DRAMATIC SCENES AS POLICE DISMANTLE DRUG TRAFFICKING GANG
guide NO DRONE!
Pilots spot children’s balloon at airport
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LAIMS that two planes were involved in a near miss at Tenerife’s south airport proved way off the mark after it was revealed as a children’s balloon!
Hashish seizure shocks tourists in Los Cristianos
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OLICE have revealed more details of what happened in Los Cristianos to produce scenes like this which shocked local residents and tourists alike. It was, they say, a drugs seizure with national implications because it seems traffickers have been using a new method to smuggle their wares into Spain involving Tenerife. These on-the-scene pictures were captured by photographer Gerard Zenou and clearly show the drama which unfolded at the port. A total of 1,753 kilograms of hashish was seized and nine people, between 18 and 35 years old and of Spanish and Moroccan nationalities, arrested. Police also confiscated a fishing boat, more than 13,000 euros in cash, mobile phones, four maritime GPS and a satellite phone. The Civil Guard says the network was dedicated to introducing hashish in fishing vessels from Morocco. The investigation began after police detected a criminal organisation based in
the south suspected of introducing large quantities of hashish using fishing boats, a new formula in the Canary Islands. To do this, they would go out to sea in the fishing boasts where they contacted the mother ship from Morocco in order to pick up their haul. “In this way, they tried to go unnoticed, since it is normal for a fishing boat to go out in search of fishing but strange for another type of boat,” said a police spokesman. It was also discovered that there was going to be a rendezvous about 30 miles from Los Cristianos between Tenerife and Gran Canaria between a fishing boat from La Palma and an inflatable. Police set up a watch so they could intercept them during the transfer of the drugs and were also able to arrest the leader of the organisation and his right-hand man who were in Los Abrigos and relaying
instructions from land. At one stage, the police realised the boat was going to change course so they intercepted and arrested seven people in the boat. The drugs were contained in 53 bales. Their homes were also searched. Police say they believe they have now dismantled the organisation. Those arrested face charges of drug trafficking and belonging to a criminal organisation.
Photos by Gerard Zenou
Two pilots at Tenerife’s south airport both reported seeing the colourful object floating in the sky as they either came in to land or were waiting to take off. The Spanish press initially reported that it was a drone and that at least one of the two planes had to take evasive action. The Civil Aviation Authority was said to be investigating the incident which was being classified as “serious”. The so-called drone was said to have come from the direction of the popular coastal resort of Golf del Sur which was at least correct. But a spokesman for the air navigation authority Enaire said the object reported by the crews was actually a children’s balloon and both pilots had been aware of this at the time of the sightings. “The reports were incorrect because it was a balloon as notified by the pilot to ENAIRE air traffic controllers. No plane suffered alterations in its landing that were carried out with normality and with all the security guarantees as always,” said a spokeswoman.