Expats with a past

John `The Coach' Traynor (52)Traynor strenuously denies allegations that he set up crime reporter Veronica Guerin for her murder.Garda and criminal sources allege that Traynor travels regularly between southern Spain, Amsterdam and Brussels to organise large-scale cannabis deals. Traynor, a former fraudster and associate of `The General', Martin Cahill, is believed to have made and spent a fortune from his involvement in the hash trade between 1994...

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Expat Gangsters visiting or living on the Costas

John `The Coach' Traynor (52)Traynor strenuously denies allegations that he set up crime reporter Veronica Guerin for her murder.Garda and criminal sources allege that Traynor travels regularly between southern Spain, Amsterdam and Brussels to organise large-scale cannabis deals. Traynor, a former fraudster and associate of `The General', Martin Cahill, is believed to have made and spent a fortune from his involvement in the hash trade between 1994...

Roquetas de Mar shoplifters caught

Guardia Civil stopped a Volkswagen Golf at 10pm in Roquetas de Mar, at a checkpoint making random inspections of passing cars, they came across more than they expected. After identifying the five occupants, officers searched the vehicle and found several articles of clothing which appeared to be brand new and with the price-tags still attached. They also found a suitcase and a bag, both of which were lined with aluminium foil – a method frequently...

Mother and son robbers

Police in Ronda have arrested a mother and son for having performed around twenty opportunistic robberies in the town. According to police, the criminals always committed their crimes in shops, taking advantage of shop owners and customers being distracted in order to steal wallets and items off the shelves. Thanks to CCTV cameras, the woman (aged 44) was caught red handed by police in a jewellery shop and her son was arrested shortly afterwards....

A total of 25 marijuana plants were seized by local police from a house in Callosa de Segura.

A total of 25 marijuana plants were seized by local police from a house in Callosa de Segura.They also arrested two people in the raid identified.The plants were being cultivated in plastic bags on a terra...

no company based in Spain has a licence to show BBC public service channels.

no company based in Spain has a licence to show BBC public service channels.They stated that it is illegal to rebroadcast these channels in Spain without a licence from them.The BBC and Sky have both said that companies that do this are breaking copyright laws.A spokesman for the BBC explained this week that the BBC’s public service channels –BBC1, BBC2 and the digital channels – are produced for broadcast in the UK only.He added that although European...

'FAT' Freddie Thompson is is now “a dead man walking”, he is in hiding in Dublin after he was forced to flee Spain by a Russian drugs gang.

Thompson is now “a dead man walking”, according to senior gardai. 'FAT' Freddie Thompson is this evening in hiding in Dublin after he was forced to flee Spain by a Russian drugs gang.The thug had originally fled Dublin and was in hiding on the Costa Blanca after the INLA ordered...

family say that an alleged sighting of Amy Fitzpatrick, in Portugal was never followed up, even though Amy's aunt reported it

family say that an alleged sighting of Amy Fitzpatrick, in Portugal was never followed up, even though Amy's aunt reported it to both the Spanish and Irish police. Amy's father, Christopher Fitzpatrick, is now attempting to raise funds in order to employ the private detective. "To...

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has vowed to end its reputation as a villains' bolt hole.

Turkish Cypriot detectives are accustomed to receiving tip-offs from their British counterparts about notorious criminal underworld figures who are heading for the island. Ever since Turkey invaded the north more than 30 years ago, the sun-baked coastline has been a haven for villains happy to exploit the impotence of extradition warrants in an occupied territory. But as leaders from both the Turkish north and Greek south prepare for next month's...

Prince Kardam of Bulgaria is in a critical condition after a traffic accident yesterday afternoon in El Molar (Madrid).

Prince Kardam of Bulgaria is in a critical condition after a traffic accident yesterday afternoon in El Molar (Madrid). His wife, Doña Miriam Ungria y López, was also injured. The accident occurred at around 2.50pm yesterday afternoon on the Madrid-bound carriageway of the N-1 (km...

42-year-old man was arrested in Málaga yesterday three hours after phoning to warn that a bomb had been placed on a Swiss International Airbus 321

42-year-old man was arrested in Málaga yesterday three hours after phoning to warn that a bomb had been placed on a Swiss International Airbus 321 travelling from from Zurich to Málaga. None of the 141 passengers were injured as they were made to evacuate the plane at Geneva airport using the emergency escape chutes. As a result of the incident, the runway was closed for around ninety minutes, forcing eight other flights to be either cancelled or...

John Michael Daykil, died on Barayo beach (Valdés) yesterday afternoon

John Michael Daykil, died on Barayo beach (Valdés) yesterday afternoon shortly after being pulled unconscious from the sea by some of his fellow bathers as his wife looked on. Mr Daykil was pronounced dead at the scene at around 2.45pm after a member of the public tried for around twenty minutes to resuscitate him. According to local officials, Barayo beach, which is not patrolled by lifeguards, was quite busy yesterday despite the choppy sea co...

non-performing loans held by Spanish banks almost tripled in the 12 months to June

The value of non-performing loans held by Spanish banks almost tripled in the 12 months to June as a combination of higher interest rates, rising unemployment and a collapsing property market drove many consumers to default.As a proportion of bank's total loan portfolios, money in the hands of delinquent borrowers stood at 1.61 percent of the total, a level that government officials say remains relatively small and does not put the health of the...

Murder inquiry after a man was shot dead in Finglas last night.The shooting follows a gun attack in Marbella

Murder inquiry after a man was shot dead in Finglas last night.The shooting follows a gun attack in Marbella in Spain last Thursday night in which Peter Mitchell, a former associate of convicted drug dealer John Gilligan, was shot and injured. Two bystanders were also hurt in the attack.Two masked raiders armed with handguns burst into a busy pub and opened fire as mourners attended a function following a funeral.Gardai said they singled out their...

Gangland Warfare hits the Costas Russian mafia and British gangsters, have fought for control of the lucrative drugs trade in southern Spain

Gangland war against Dublin criminal John Gilligan has shifted to Spain’s Costa del Sol. Gardai believe that the attempted murder of a former member of Gilligan’s drugs gang in Andalusia was linked to threats against the crime boss. Peter Mitchell was shot outside a bar on a complex in Puerto Banus, near Marbella.Two other people wounded in the shooting were innocent bystanders from Ireland, says the Republic’s Department of Foreign Affairs. One...

Amy Fitzpatrick disappeared camera could have recorded Amy on the track she is thought to have taken on New Year's Day

It has been revealed that a camera could have recorded Amy on the track she is thought to have taken on New Year's Day, the day she disappeared. Amy Fitzpatrick disappeared on the evening of New Year's Day 1st January 2008 at approximately 10pm when she left her friends house in...

Nikki Beach shooting possible links to Peter Mitchell hit.

Police in Spain are investigating if an overnight shooting in Marbella is linked to a gun attack on an Irishman in the Costa del Sol this week.A 42-year-old man and one other person were shot in the early hours of this morning, outside a disco bar.On Thursday night 39-year-old Peter Mitchell, a former associate of convicted drugs dealer John Gilligan, was shot in a bar in Puerto Banus by a masked gunman.He remains under guard in hospital in Spain...

Shots were fired as fighting broke out at the Nikki Beach disco

Shots were fired as fighting broke out at the Nikki Beach disco, near Marbella, where guests included the British actress Jennifer Metcalfe from the soap opera HollyoaksA 42-year-old man received hospital treatment after being shot in both legs, while the extent of the injuries to...

overnight shooting in Marbella is linked to a gun attack on 39-year-old Peter Mitchell on the Costa del Sol this week.

Police in Spain are investigating if an overnight shooting in Marbella is linked to a gun attack on an Irishman in the Costa del Sol this week.A 42-year-old man and one other person were shot in the early hours of this morning, outside a disco bar.On Thursday night 39-year-old Peter Mitchell, a former associate of convicted drugs dealer John Gilligan, was shot in a bar in Puerto Banus by a masked gunman.He remains under guard in hospital in Spain...

Peter Mitchell was sat outside the El Jardin bar in Puerto Banus, when the hitman opened fire

Peter Mitchell was sat outside the El Jardin bar in Puerto Banus, when the hitman opened fire at 11.40pm on Thursday.The gunman tripped as he fired off four shots, and injured two innocent bystanders as he chased after his target. Mitchell, 39, escaped with two bullet wounds to the...

One man was gunned down at the Trendy beach nightclub Nikki Beach, near Marbella, Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Metcalfe was dancing with friends.

Nikki Beach is a favourite of the celebs who flock to the up-market resort of Marbella in the summer. Trendy beach nightclub Nikki Beach, near Marbella, Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Metcalfe was dancing with friends. One man was gunned down and another injured after a fight broke out after 2am.Jennifer -- who plays Mercedes McQueen in the soap -- left in tears as the two male victims were rushed to hospital. The 25-year-old actress was thought to...

'Fat' Freddie Thompson, who has been lying low in Spain for the last number of weeks, has returned to his inner city stronghold

'Fat' Freddie Thompson, who has been lying low in Spain for the last number of weeks, has returned to his inner city stronghold, no doubt to organise the next phase of a bloody feud that has already claimed 13 lives.It seems unbelieveable that this drug mastermind, who has so much blood on his hands, has now the temerity to attempt to sue gardai for an alleged security breach. With almost breathtaking affrontery, this criminal would use the law he...

Irish holidaymakers sparked a massive air and land rescue -- after getting lost as they tried to climb a Spanish mountain in 90 degree heat.

Irish holidaymakers sparked a massive air and land rescue -- after getting lost as they tried to climb a Spanish mountain in 90 degree heat.The Dublin trio phoned friends after running out of water and succumbing to dehydration as they attempted to reach the summit of La Concha overlooking the Costa del Sol resort of Marbella. And their pals made matters worse after alerting emergency services -- by trying to reach the stricken men in their beachwear...

Peter "Fatso" Mitchell and two other men received bullet wounds as they sat drinking beer on the pub terrace near the Costa del Sol

Peter "Fatso" Mitchell and two other men received bullet wounds as they sat drinking beer on the pub terrace near the Costa del Sol resort of Puerto Banus. Four shots were fired by a masked gunman, two of which hit 39-year-old Mitchell in the shoulder and arm. He was last night recovering...

100 people have been killed after a passenger plane swerved off the runway at Madrid's Barajas airport, Spanish officials say.

100 people have been killed after a passenger plane swerved off the runway at Madrid's Barajas airport, Spanish officials say. Many others were hurt when the Spanair plane bound for the Canary Islands left the runway with 172 people on board. There were reports of a fire in the left engine during take-off. TV footage showed smoke billowing from the craft. Helicopters were called in to dump water on to the plane, and dozens of ambulances went to the...

foreign property owners in the Marina Baixa region of Valencia’s Alicante province have formed a group called Veins de L’Alfàs (Residents of L’Alfàs).

Following the plight faced by many local residents; foreign property owners in the Marina Baixa region of Valencia’s Alicante province have formed a group called Veins de L’Alfàs (Residents of L’Alfàs). It’s designed to defend their rights as homeowners against the town council and local property developers. The homeowners are threatened with the prospect of having some or all of their land taken away from them, under the controversial ‘land grab’...

Convicted drugs smuggler Anthony Cyril Spencer, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire has helped his son Jason Wilson to write Him & Hers Smuggling Vacation.

COMIC book with top tips on drug smuggling from a Midland supercriminal is being circulated at HMP Birmingham.Convicted drugs smuggler Anthony Cyril Spencer, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire has helped his son Jason Wilson to write Him & Hers Smuggling Vacation.Spencer was sentenced to six years in jail for importing cannabis in 2003 and has spent more than 20 years in prison.The book is based on a married Coventry couple who try to smuggle a large...

crackdown on Costa Blanca crime, the police have arrested 28 alleged members of criminal groups from former Soviet countries

crackdown on Costa Blanca crime, the police have arrested 28 alleged members of criminal groups from former Soviet countries on suspicion of money laundering in what Spanish authorities have called the largest-ever crackdown on international organized crime in Europe.The arrests...

Thousands of holidaymakers were evacuated shortly before the first bomb went off around 1pm local time by the Tryp Hotel in Guadalmar Beach

Thousands of holidaymakers trying to reach Malaga Airport were caught in six-mile-long traffic jams as police closed the access road to the airport to search for an ETA bomb thought to have been planted along a nearby motorway. Tourists landing this afternoon were also prevented from leaving the airport as security services tried to locate the device. A spokesman for EasyJet said: "No-one can reach or leave the airport at the moment. "We haven't...

Amy Fitzpatrick went missing on New Year's Day. She had left her best friend's house on the Riviera del Sol, Costa del Sol at around 10pm

Amy Fitzpatrick went missing on New Year's Day. She had left her best friend's house on the Riviera del Sol, Costa del Sol at around 10pm after spending the day with her visiting amusement arcades. Amy had almost decided to spend the night with her best friend Ashley Rose and had...

ruse to sell non-performing mortgage loans as ‘distressed homes’. Investors looking for distress sales on the Costa del Sol should beware.

A source tells me that some lawyers on the Costa del Sol are up to no good again. Now that their astronomical fees from conveyancing have dwindled to a trickle in the market freeze, they are having to come up with new ways to part clients from their money. This time they have come up with a ruse to sell non-performing mortgage loans as ‘distressed homes’. Investors looking for distress sales on the Costa del Sol should beware.I’m not sure exactly...

Sunday saw the celebration of the Día Sin Bañador, day without the bathing costume, organised by the Spanish Nudist Federation.

Sunday saw the celebration of the Día Sin Bañador, day without the bathing costume, organised by the Spanish Nudist Federation.The federation is made up of 14 nudist associations from across the country but the day was particularly successful in Asturias and Cataluña where many took off their clothes in demand that nudist and non-nudist beaches no longer be separa...

Costa del Sol has turned into the Costa del Gloom.

Adding to Spain’s economic problems, the Costa del Sol has turned into the Costa del Gloom. The sun still shines, but the economic storm clouds have been gathering for some time and are now raining on the property developers’ parade. Holiday and retirement homes that once looked like sure shot investments are now dropping in value. Apartments, often bought by speculators, have fallen in value by a third in the last year. Their owners – many from...

Property prices have fallen by a crushing 35% over the past 12 months, four times faster than in the UK, and haven't stopped plunging yet.

Who is going to shell out for all this whitewashed concrete, even at today's knock-down prices? Spanish property developers are frantically asking the same question, with buyers for unfinished projects down up to 60%. With their credit lines garrotted by the credit crunch, the developers are expiring in droves.Property prices have fallen by a crushing 35% over the past 12 months, four times faster than in the UK, and haven't stopped plunging yet....

Ranks of exquisitely tasteless, often empty, villas advancing in close order up isolated, parched hillsides.

Drive along the coast south of Alicante and the results of the Spanish property bubble are there to see: serried ranks of exquisitely tasteless, often empty, villas advancing in close order up isolated, parched hillsides. Many have been built in locations totally unsuitable for housing: by the sides of dual carriageways, away from shops and amenities – anywhere that developers could find a landowner willing to sell. Property has driven the Spanish...

prices are falling, buyers are disappearing and developers, starved of loans by Spanish banks nervous about international financial instability

prices are falling, buyers are disappearing and developers, starved of loans by Spanish banks nervous about international financial instability, are going bust. the Costas, developments lie half-finished, without water and electricity, and without any prospect of being sold.For Spain's notoriously corrupt and capricious planning regime, which gave birth to the developments now disfiguring virtually all the country's Mediterranean coastline, the chickens...

former wife of BBVA executive, Andrés Toro Barea, who was murdered in Bollullos de la Mitación (Sevilla) last June, may have used a relative's gun

former wife of BBVA executive, Andrés Toro Barea, who was murdered in Bollullos de la Mitación (Sevilla) last June, may have used a relative's gun to commit the crime. NRCS, who had separated from her former husband several months before his murder, was arrested last Tuesday and...

Spanish authorities are secretly preparing to deal with a significant terrorist attack in one of the country’s popular tourist resorts

Spanish authorities are secretly preparing to deal with a significant terrorist attack in one of the country’s popular tourist resorts, and have ordered police to step up security measures, according to an internal memorandum distributed to regional forces last week.The warning comes after a spate of minor bombings by the Basque separatist group ETA, timed to disrupt Spain’s tourist industry at its busiest period.The latest attack, a blast outside...

it’s now thought that at least twelve international schools are operating in the province of Málaga without permission.

The case of the dangerous conditions at the St Javier’s International Nursery in Marbella, has led the authorities to take a closer look at other international schools in the area, and it’s now thought that at least twelve international schools are operating in the province of Málaga without permission.The owner of St Javier’s has been arrested and she has been working there for 12 years without the regional Educational authorities knowing about...

Officers from Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency and Spanish police are now increasingly focusing on criminal elements among UK residents

Officers from Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency and Spanish police are now increasingly focusing on potentially criminal elements among UK residents abroad. Their efforts are running in tandem with attempts by Greater Manchester Police to round up some of its most wanted individuals. Recently, the Mancunian suspected of funding one of Britain's largest gun smuggling operations was caught after 11 years on the run, most of them believed to...

Figures from the Spanish tourist board show the number of Brits holidaying in Spain in the second quarter to June fell by 5 per cent

Figures from the Spanish tourist board show the number of Brits holidaying in Spain in the second quarter to June fell by 5 per cent compared to last year. Overall, the number of visitors to Spain was down 0.7 per cent. Of course, the British love affair with Iberia has not ended yet - Spain is still our favourite holiday destination, attracting about 12 million visitors each year. But the effect of the credit crunch, combined with the strength of...

Hotel Byblos Andaluz in Mijas auctioned off

Nobody turned up at the auction to sell off the Hotel Byblos Andaluz in Mijas , and that despite that the reserve price was set at 15.1 million €, estimated to be less than half the hotel’s real value. The luxury hotel is owned by the troubled Aifos real estate developer and Mijas Ayuntamiento had organised the auction to collect a debt owed to it by the company. Aifos owes 1.2 million to Mijas in IBI and IAE taxes, and also find themselves implicated...

Spain police have made their biggest heroin seizure when drugs with a street value of more than 54 million euros ($89.6 million) were found at Sitges

Spain police have made their biggest heroin seizure when drugs with a street value of more than 54 million euros ($89.6 million) were found in the Mediterranean port of Sitges.The 316.5kg of heroin were taken from a US-flagged ship and loaded on a van with a Dutch licence plate, police said in a statement. Five men, four of Turkish origin and a Romanian were detained.The drugs were in 633 packages.It is one of the biggest heroin busts in Europe and...

Marbella Police in action

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Police have arrested nine people from the Costa Blanca on suspicion of peddling liquid ecstasy via the internet

Police have arrested nine people from the Costa Blanca on suspicion of peddling liquid ecstasy via the internet. They say the substance is highly dangerous and the bottle carries a warning that it is ‘unsuitable for human consumption’. A total of 12 people from the provinces of Alicante, Malaga and Madrid were detained last week and found to be in possession of 14 litres of Gamma Butirolactona (GBL).This is primarily an industrial solvent used for...

Come visit Spain, the European point of entry for cocaine

A study of randomly selected Spanish euro notes carried out by chemists at the University of Valencia (UV) has shown that they contained traces of cocaine at an average concentration of 155 micrograms, which is the highest rate in Europe, according to an article published in the latest issue of Trends in Analytical Chemistry. The researchers also carried out a comparative study of the methods currently used in detecting the presence of cocaine on...