Three Arrested as Police Smash Two Drug Dealing Operations in Orihuela

Three individuals have been apprehended by the National Police in Orihuela as part of an operation aimed at dismantling two suspected drug-dealing enterprises. The suspects, comprising a woman and two men aged between 43 and 50, were detained on charges of drug trafficking and receiving stolen goods following raids on two residential properties suspected of being used for distributing hashish and marijuana.

The investigation commenced when Orihuela Judicial Police Brigade officers received information indicating drug sales from the two locations. Surveillance footage revealed a consistent flow of individuals entering and exiting the properties, leading investigators to discover that numerous people were transporting narcotics believed to have been acquired within the premises.

As the inquiry progressed, authorities uncovered evidence suggesting that the suspects were accepting stolen valuables as payment for drugs, effectively transforming the properties into hubs for both narcotics distribution and the exchange of stolen goods. Following the identification of the three suspects, police secured judicial authorization to search both residences.

During the raids, authorities seized 44 grams of hashish and 45 grams of marijuana, all in packages prepared for distribution, alongside drug preparation, weighing, and packaging equipment. However, it was the quantity and variety of suspected stolen property recovered that garnered significant attention from investigators. Among the items seized were nine mobile phones, 14 watches, 12 electric drills, various power tools and machinery, including sanders, angle grinders, blowers, and cement mixers, as well as a bicycle and three electric scooters.

Subsequent investigations enabled police to link some of the recovered property to six burglaries reported in Orihuela. The victims have been notified so that their recovered belongings can be returned. The suspects have been brought before the Orihuela duty court following the conclusion of initial police procedures. The investigation continues as officers work to determine the origins of the remaining recovered property and ascertain whether additional crimes can be solved.