In Alicante, members of the Local Police Dog Unit detained a 20-year-old Swedish national at the bus terminal last Saturday. He was found traveling with 19.5 kilograms of marijuana and half a kilogram of what appeared to be cocaine. The arrest occurred after the canine team, led by Gus the narcotics-detection dog, signaled the presence of illegal substances. The City Council confirmed Gus was part of the unit trained to detect narcotics and play a crucial role in such operations, contributing to public safety at major transit hubs.
The young man was charged with drug trafficking and illegal possession of weapons following his apprehension. A loaded semi-automatic weapon magazine containing 15 cartridges and an additional 29 rounds were recovered during the search connected to the incident. The seizure highlighted the dangers associated with large-scale drug distribution networks and the potential for firearms to be involved in illicit activities, as reported by municipal authorities.
Alongside the drugs seized, the operation also involved the Local Police Dog Unit and its canine partner Gus, whose role in the investigation was emphasized by city officials. This collaboration between officers and the canine unit underlines the department’s commitment to effective policing at critical transport points.
A day later, with the intervention of Gus, officers arrested a 32-year-old Belarusian citizen at the same station. He had left a backpack in a lobby locker and was found to be carrying five marijuana items and a bag concealed inside another container within the luggage compartment of a bus. The discovery added to the week’s sequence of targeted interventions at the Alicante bus terminal, reinforcing the police focus on preventing drug distribution through travel hubs.
Five interventions and ongoing vigilance
Municipal authorities note that the Local Police Canine Unit has carried out five drug interceptions at the bus terminal in the past six weeks. The pattern underscores the importance of maintaining robust canine patrols in high-traffic areas where passengers frequently swap between routes. Critics have pointed to budget adjustments within the Security Department, including cuts to staffing, which some say could temporarily reduce coverage. City officials respond that ongoing training and tactical reinforcements remain a priority to deter illicit activity and safeguard the public even when adjustments are made.
The latest intervention occurred Saturday afternoon at a bus stop serving the Malaga to Barcelona corridor. Local police state that Gus was pivotal in identifying the suspect’s backpack and guiding officers to narcotics concealed within a suitcase and a separate sports bag in the bus trunk. The outcome underscores how canine units can accelerate evidence collection and disrupt criminal plans that rely on travel networks for distribution, according to city reports.