Stabroek News - Accused Colombian drug lord nabbed on Brazil beach

Stabroek News - Accused Colombian drug lord nabbed on Brazil beach: "arrest of 42-year-old Ramon Caro on the Brazilian beach, where he was posing as a cattle rancher on vacation.
“We had been chasing him for years,” said Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva. It was unclear whether Caro will be extradited straight to the United States, where he is wanted on drug trafficking and money laundering charges, or sent to Colombia first.
Caro is said by authorities to be a 20-year-veteran of Colombia’s violent cocaine trade. His operations were based in the eastern province of Casanare and police say he was linked to right-wing paramilitaries branded terrorists by Washington.
Caro was at the centre of a recent controversy when videotapes of his wedding surfaced, showing two Colombian army colonels among the guests. Both were booted out of the military as a result of the scandal.
Caro’s capture follows the arrest on Tuesday of Ramon Quintero, another suspected Colombian drug lord caught in Ecuador’s capital city Quito. Colombians wanted by the law often cross into neighbouring countries to avoid capture."

Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801: "UK Authorities, the Financial Crime Unit of the RGP provided evidence that enabled the confiscation of over £69,000. held in accounts in Gibraltar against Ellen George. The freezing order for the assets were issued by the courts in 2005, after the Attorney General’s Chambers had applied for a restraint order for the monies.Ms George is the partner of Richard Neil Davidson, Managing Director of Crompton Marine, who was arrested in Spain in relation to charges of drug trafficking, tax evasion and money laundering.
Crompton Marine built high speed Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBS) capable of speeds in excess of 60 knots, which the prosecution claimed were built for only one purpose – drug trafficking, with the core of the business in the Costa Del Sol.
The RIBS were built in the UK and then shipped to Southern Spain, Morocco and other North African countries. Davidson and his partner were accused of dealing with drug barons who would secretly pay them in cash, which they would then deposit in numerous accounts all over the world, including Gibraltar. For this purpose they had set up various companies behind which to hide their assets. When Ms George was arrested in Suffolk, over £1.2m was found in cash in holdalls and cupboards. A further 1m Euros in cash was found in their home in Spain."

Euro Weekly News | Easter crimes | Costa del Sol | News

Euro Weekly News | Easter crimes | Costa del Sol | News: "Easter period, police in Malaga arrested seven people of different nationalities charged with muggings and robberies in the city. One of the detainees is believed to have committed up to 16 car robberies."

Liverpool Echo.co.uk - News - Liverpool Local News - Notorious gangster Pancake Taylor caught on CCTV sparking brawl at Liverpool bar

Liverpool Echo.co.uk - News - Liverpool Local News - Notorious gangster Pancake Taylor caught on CCTV sparking brawl at Liverpool bar: "pictures, taken from CCTV, show how James “Pancake” Taylor and his pals erupted into violence when doorman barred them from entering swanky Palm Sugar bar in Liverpool ONE.
The footage, played at Liverpool crown court yesterday, shows Taylor throwing a punch at a bouncer before a melee breaks out.
Taylor and his pals, including co-defendant Steven Nicholls, 29, can then be seen launching chairs at security staff while terrified passers-by flee to safety.
Robert Jansen, prosecuting, told how another member of Taylor’s gang then hurls a ceramic ashtray towards staff."

Liverpool Echo.co.uk - News - Liverpool Local News - Notorious gangster Pancake Taylor caught on CCTV sparking brawl at Liverpool bar

Liverpool Echo.co.uk - News - Liverpool Local News - Notorious gangster Pancake Taylor caught on CCTV sparking brawl at Liverpool bar: "Taylor, who was wearing a distinctive dark top with a metallic logo on the back, was identified after police viewed the CCTV footage from the late-night brawl.
Nicholls was also picked out and the men were arrested on October 7, 2009.
As he left court, Taylor tried to hide from photographers by pulling up his jumper to disguise his face.
Neighbourhood Inspector Mark Morgan, said: ' We note the sentences given. This was a shocking incident, with those convicted clearly having no regard for the safety of others. Merseyside Police is committed to keeping Liverpool city centre safe for everyone to enjoy. Violence and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated. We will continue to work with the bars and clubs, and have processes in place to ensure that known criminals who have a history of violence are not welcome in the city centre.
'This kind of occurrence is thankfully very rare and I'd like to reassure the public that Liverpool city centre is a safe city, with incidents of recorded crime, including violence, having fallen consecutively over recent years.
'Merseyside Police will continue to patrol the city centre and provide help, advice and reassurance throughout and our firm, friendly and fair style of policing to ensure visitors to the city centre enjoy the night life that the city centre has to offer.'"

» Prosecutors: Black Guerrilla Family gang dealt heroin in Baltimore

» Prosecutors: Black Guerrilla Family gang dealt heroin in Baltimore: "charged 13 people with being part of a prison gang they say was trying to take over the heroin trade in Baltimore.
Two dozen people associated with the Black Guerrilla Family gang were indicted last year, but those indictments mostly centered on the gang’s prison activities. Court documents show that the gang was also active outside prison and was trying to control the heroin trade in Baltimore.
Among those charged are 36-year-old Todd Duncan of Baltimore. He’s accused of leading the gang’s operations in the Baltimore area. Documents show that 41-year-old Kimberly McIntosh handled the gang’s finances.
Duncan, McIntosh and 11 others have been charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin."

costadelsol.st - News - Costa del Sol

costadelsol.st - News - Costa del Sol: "It is understood that under Spanish law those who steal to eat are not considered to have committed a crime, but in this case it is a crime as he took other items.
According to press reports a 65 year old man who lived in the mountains in La Axarquía has been arrested in connection with some 20 or so robberies from homes in the area.It is understood that the man stole from the same house several times on some occasions, taking small amounts of food and occasionally small electrical appliances The man who has been identified as Juan A.M"

Arrested man linked to the killing of a prostitute in Córdoba.

Arrested man linked to the killing of a prostitute in Córdoba.: "Arrested man linked to the killing of a prostitute in Córdoba.
The National Police have arrested a man in Cordoba, whose identity was not disclosed, for his alleged connection with the discovery of the corpse of a prostitute with signs of violence on King Don Pelayo street in Cordoba. National Police sources told Efe of the arrest of a man in connection with this event, but they have not provided any more data, as the police investigation remains open.
The dead woman, found with signs of violence on King Don Pelayo street, was found in the home of a patron of the victim, as neighbours reported.
Some local residents told reporters that the woman was aged around 30 and came from Huelva, and that the apartment is owned by SC aged about 60 years, he living alone, was single, and, allegedly has problems with alcohol."

Costa Del Sol crime reports |Crime Scene Spain

Costa Del Sol crime reports |Crime Scene Spain: "NATIONAL POLICE have arrested a 45-year-old man who allegedly committed at least 21 armed robberies in shops in Malaga city. He always targeted shops with few security devices and waited until the shopkeepers were alone, threatening them with knives."

marbella |Crime Scene Spain

marbella |Crime Scene Spain: "organized crime ring that specialized in the trading of greenhouse gas emission bonds and had defrauded nearly 50 million euros in unpaid taxes has been smashed by Guardia Civil and the Agencia Tributaria.
The operation called Blue Sky has already seen the arrest of nine individuals in Barcelona, Madrid, Marbella"

Sex fiends on the loose | The Olive Press

Sex fiends on the loose | The Olive Press: "capture of Glen Tranter, 40, came as it emerged that at least 37 sex offenders – including 24 British child abusers – have gone missing while travelling abroad.
A Freedom of Information request forced police in southern England to admit that dozens of sex offenders remain unaccounted for.
Now, crime agencies fear that many of the group will have fled to Spain.
“We knew straight away that he was the man the police were looking for. It’s just sickening when you think of the crimes he is wanted for.” “Spain is traditionally a hideout for UK criminals and it is fairly easy to blend into the expat community due to the high numbers of Britons living here,” said Spain-based private detective Roy Whitehouse of WIS International.
Whitehouse explained that they usually change their appearance and use new names via fake passports.
The former Scotland Yard detective added: “It is vital to keep a close eye on anyone acting suspiciously with children, and immediately report any suspicious behaviour.”"

Latin American Herald Tribune - Spaniard Arrested in Dominican Republic on Drug Smuggling Charges

Latin American Herald Tribune - Spaniard Arrested in Dominican Republic on Drug Smuggling Charges: "Juan Antonio Hidalgo de Moya, the administrator of the Startmable company, was arrested Tuesday after investigators determined the cargo containing the drugs was shipped from the Dominican Republic by that firm.

Dominican prosecutors initially accused Hidalgo de Moya of participating in a network allegedly directed by Spanish businessman Arturo del Tiempo Marquez, to whom the shipment is attributed and who has been under arrest in Barcelona since March 9.

However, Dominican authorities released Hidalgo de Moya on Wednesday, and the National District prosecutor’s office said that although the Spaniard was questioned for several hours, he was let go because no “merits” for keeping him in jail were found.

Hidalgo de Moya’s arrest and subsequent release came two weeks after the detention here of Colombian German Eduardo Duque Garcia, an associate of Arturo del Tiempo.

“During a raid conducted today (Tuesday) at the office of the Startmable company ... documents were seized providing evidence of the links of the said firm with the Prado Universal company, the owner of the 1,200 kilos of cocaine seized from Del Tiempo Marquez in Spain,” the Santo Domingo prosecutor’s office said.

After the arrest of Del Tiempo Marquez in Spain, Dominican authorities seized a luxury apartment building owned by the businessman located in an exclusive sector of Santo Domingo.

In addition, authorities confiscated a yacht belonging to the Spanish businessman and also a villa in the Casa de Campo tourist complex that Del Tiempo used to rent."

RONDA NEWS: DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY APRIL 8 2010

RONDA NEWS: DATELINE RONDA THURSDAY APRIL 8 2010: "Partido Popular mayor of Gaucín, Francisco Ruiz, has reacted angrily to PSOE claims that he has disappeared. He says he has gone on holiday with his wife to a Spanish coast and would return to the town hall this week.

He had bitter words for the spokesperson of PSOE at the town hall and his predecessor as mayor, Teodoro de Molina. Ruiz added he was considering taking legal action against him for insults and injury.

PSOE claimed in the middle of last week that Ruiz had disappeared. However the mayor says he simply had gone on holiday, was in contact with his first and second deputies by phone adding that they had now paid the municipal workers for January. He insisted he had a right to enjoy his holidays and PSOE had no right to doubt his honour or how he worked.

The surprise then came when Ruiz announced he was standing down as mayor and leaving the council. This prompted the secretary general of the Partido Popular in Málaga, Francisco Salado, to seek an urgent meeting with Ruiz to see why he had resigned although the party respected his right to do so.

After the last election PSOE and the PP formed an unlikely coalition to keep the Partido Andalucista from maintaining power. The PA was then led by former mayor Francisco Corbacho who has since been barred from office by the courts over misappropriating town hall funds. Teodoro de Molina led the PSOE-PP administration but first the PP withdrew and then the PA took back control by making Ruiz mayor.

De Molina is not backing down insisting that Ruiz had fled because of the chaos he had created at the town hall. The deputy mayor, Francisco Macias, last week said he did not know where the mayor was although they had spoken by phone"

Four ‘Hell’s Angels’ arrested over for the murder of Torrevieja Notary | This Is Torrevieja

Four ‘Hell’s Angels’ arrested over for the murder of Torrevieja Notary | This Is Torrevieja: "Guardia Civil in Alicante have arrested a municipality of Murcia, Torrent (Valencia) and Almassora (Castellón) four members of the group of Hells Angels bikers, “the Hell’s Angels” – for their alleged involvement in the murder of a notary Torrevieja, who was shot dead during a robbery at his professional office in late October last year. Among the four arrested, one Russian and three Spanish citizen, is the alleged perpetrator of the shooting that took the life of Juan José Martínez Román and the other alleged assailant who was with him the day he was murdered, according to sources close the case. The operation was kept open yesterday afternoon and did not rule out further arrests.
These arrests are in addition to fifth suspect implied that he was captured early last February, coinciding with the release of the young Russian who was originally captured and released after 45 days in jail. The Guardia Civil investigators found that witnesses to the robbery had been mistaken for someone to identify you.
Among the seized property in the house searches carried out by the Guardia Civil yesterday contained a firearm that is presumably used in the deadly robbery in the office of notary. However, experts in ballistics Civil Guard now analyze it to see if it is the murder weapon as evidence suggests."

Glen Tranter, is currently detained in Malaga and will be transferred to Madrid for an extradition hearing.

landlord Trevor Rowan (45) spoke of his shock after learning that a lodger at his home on the Costa del Sol appeared on BBC programme Crimewatch accused of child abuse. Glen Tranter, who fled the UK while on bail, is wanted on eight charges of sexual offences against girls under the age of 16. The offences which include sexual touching of a child and indecent assault, date back to 1992. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph from his bar in Benalmadena, Mr Rowan said he “couldn’t believe it” when family and friends from Co Antrim contacted him to say they had seen Tranter on television. “It was a shock. A real shock,” the former taxi driver explained.
“He was living with me and my girlfriend, Belinda. He used to come into the bar looking for taxi jobs and we got to know him and gave him work like taking people to Malaga airport and that.” Mr Rowan said he and his girlfriend Belinda McIntosh (51), originally from the Shankill area of Belfast, offered Tranter a room after taking pity on him. “Him and his old landlord fell out and he came into the bar one night crying and so we offered him a place to stay,” said Mr Rowan. “My nephew and my father rang me and told me he was on Crimewatch. “As soon as I heard I went to the police in Gibraltar which is about an hour away from where we live and informed them that he was living in my apartment. “That was on Monday night. When he came back to the apartment I confronted him but he denied it and kept on denying it.
“I helped him pack his bags and took him round to the police.” It is understood Mr Rowan first went to the authorities in Gibraltar, a British colony, because of the language barrier. He was interviewed for around three hours during which he identified the suspect from photographs. Tranter is currently detained in Malaga and will be transferred to Madrid for an extradition hearing.

"Don Chuy Drug Trafficking Organization," the ring allegedly obtained meth in Mexico and arranged for large quantities to be smuggled into the United

"Don Chuy Drug Trafficking Organization," the ring allegedly obtained meth in Mexico and arranged for large quantities to be smuggled into the United States, concealed in hidden compartments and fake car batteries in vehicles driven across the border, according to Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office. The ring then distributed the drugs through cells based in the Inland Empire and the Central Valley, as well as Washington state, Mrozek said. The organization -- named after the ring's alleged leader, Jesus Marquez- Marquez, known as "Don Chuy" -- allegedly stored the drugs in Tijuana stash houses before moving shipments across the border. Marquez-Marquez, the lead defendant in a criminal complaint filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, is believed to be somewhere in the Mexican state of Michoacan, according to federal investigators. Several of Don Chuy's top lieutenants were arrested today or were already in federal custody, Mrozek said. The alleged overseer of meth distribution in the U.S. was Jose Alfredo Jimenez, of Mira Loma, Temecula who was taken into custody this afternoon, along with the following Riverside County residents: -- Martin Garcia Angulo, known as "King Midas," of Perris; -- Sergio Chavez Pulido, known as "Checo," of Mira Loma; -- Erika Cecilia Valdovino, of Moreno Valley. -- and Alma Rodriguez, of Corona. The defendants were either directly involved in smuggling the narcotics or were aiding and abetting members of the various distribution cells, authorities alleged. The criminal complaint charges 31 defendants with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, which carries a statutory maximum penalty of life without parole in federal prison.
"The organization targeted today is believed to be responsible for bringing more than 200 pounds of meth into Southern California every month -- enough meth to supply thousands of people with this highly addictive and dangerous drug," said Timothy J. Landrum of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Along with today's arrests, authorities seized five pounds of the drug at a house in San Bernardino that authorities believe was maintained by the organization, Mrozek said. During an eight-month investigation of the ring, authorities seized about 90 pounds of meth with a street value of well over $5 million, Mrozek said.

Spanish police seized 2.5 tonnes of cocaine from several shipping containers from Colombia and Mexico

Spanish police seized 2.5 tonnes of cocaine from several shipping containers from Colombia and Mexico and detained three men as part of the operation, the government said Wednesday. The drugs were hidden amongst shipments of electricity generators, fizzy drinks and other merchandise that arrived in the Mediterranean port of Valencia, the interior ministry said in a statement.

Devastated bride of a man who drowned in a freak honeymoon accident on the Costa Del Sol has blamed Spanish authorities for her husband’s death.

Yesterday, a coroner in Chelmsford ruled Russell Hawkes, 34, a welder from Basildon, drowned in a “tragic accident” after going for a paddle in the sea and being caught in treacherous undercurrents. Mr Hawkes and his wife Danielle had only been married for two months when they went on holiday to the Spanish resort of Fuengirola in October, 2008. Despite coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray’s verdict of accidental death, Mrs Hawkes said her husband’s death could have been avoided if the Spanish authorities had provided holidaymakers with more warning about treacherous sea conditions. Speaking at the inquest, Mrs Hawkes said: “If I had the money to sue I would do, but I can't afford to pay for it. “My main concern is the lack of information provided about the health and safety issues. “People were not warned that there is only a flag system about dangerous water between June and September.”
Mr Hawkes died after he decided to go for a swim while taking an after-lunch stroll along the beach with his wife. Mrs Hawkes, who now lives in Milton Keynes, told the inquest she saw him get into trouble, and shouted for help. Her screams got the attention of a group of nearby surfers, who brought Mr Hawkes to shore and battled in vain to save him. The couple were married at Holy Ghost Roman Catholic Church in Luton, where Mr Hawkes moved to be with his wife.

The European parliament’s Petitions Committee, a Spanish government spokesman attracted widespread condemnation for Spain’s failure, over many years,

The European parliament’s Petitions Committee, a Spanish government spokesman attracted widespread condemnation for Spain’s failure, over many years, to act on extensive property scams, affecting British and other buyers of Spanish holiday and retirement homes.In the meeting, Alicia Paz, Director General for Sustainability of Coastal Regions, asserted that the Spanish Coastal Law, implicated in many of the forced expropriations of seaside property, was intended to preserve Spain’s fragile coastal environment. But she failed to explain how such a law could be applied retrospectively, how it could be used to deny basic property rights to Spanish and foreign investors who had bought property on the basis of binding contracts and land registration, and why the expropriations seemed to apply to private householders, but not to hotels and major developments.

Stuart Docherty,handed himself into police months after fleeing to Spain on his brother's passport.

Stuart Docherty, 27, was convicted of murdering 25-year-old Mark Morrison in Crossloan Terrace, Govan, last January. The High Court in Glasgow heard how Docherty handed himself into police months after fleeing to Spain on his brother's passport.
Jailing him for life, judge Lord Turnbull said "mindless violence" had ruined his life and taken another. The court heard how there was a history of "bad blood" between the Docherty and Mr Morrison. On 31 January 2009, Mr Morrison was caught on CCTV cameras carrying a large machete. He then got into an altercation with a group of youths before shouting on Docherty to come out of the pool hall he was in.
At this point Mr Morrison, who no longer had the machete, was stabbed seven times by Docherty and left to die in Crossloan Terrace.Your mindless violence has now ruined your own life. Knife crime is the scourge of society The court was told one of the knife wounds went through the victim's skull and pierced his brain. The fatal blow to his back severed a major artery and caused Mr Morrison to bleed to death.
After the murder Docherty threw the clothes he had been wearing in the River Clyde and flew to Spain on his brother's passport. An international arrest warrant was issued, but Spanish police were unable to trace him. He returned to Scotland a few months later and handed himself into police. Passing sentence, Lord Turnbull said: "This shows the terrible consequences which flow from young men engaging in violence in the streets. "Mark Morrison's death was wholly unnecessary. It brought his life to an end at 25 and brought grief to his family. "Your mindless violence has now ruined your own life. Knife crime is the scourge of society.
"The courts have on four previous occasions tried to bring home to you the danger of carrying a weapon and you have taken no notice."