dancer Raphael Bitter was arrested again, this time by agents of the National Police in Alicante this Thursday. The charges are the same as the previous case, according to Prensa Ibérica’s investigation and OPEN CASE program: drug trafficking. The substance in question, known on the streets as methamphetamine, also referred to as crystal, is alleged to be the drug involved in the case, and it has been reported as the substance responsible for the recent investigation.
The drug is said to originate mainly from Mexico, with historical connections to Germany, and once on the street it can fetch about eighty euros per gram, more than twice the price of cocaine. It is frequently consumed by smoking in a pipe, according to the investigators.
Nine years in prison
In late 2020, Bitter was detained at his Madrid home as part of a broader operation known as Operation Corax (Cuervo). Police records from that operation indicate the seizure of more than 60 grams of methamphetamine, a detail later noted by the Supreme Court as part of its assessment of the case against those involved.
The current case remains pending before the Madrid County Court, with a hearing scheduled for next June. Prosecutors are seeking a lengthy prison term for the defendant on charges related to ongoing public health offenses tied to illegal drug activity.
Cash, quantities, and a key location
During the investigations, authorities confiscated about six thousand euros in cash, along with ketamine and liquid ecstasy. The principal objective, as described by authorities, included a maker’s residence where a substantial portion of the methamphetamine was reportedly prepared. A portion of the drug, about 0.4 grams, was found at Bitter’s own home while investigators also recovered a more substantial amount from the other location.
There was mention of a telephonic interception in which Bitter is heard discussing quantities of methamphetamine, with investigators interpreting the conversation as an indication of planned distribution. According to the prosecutor, the dialogue suggested intent to expand the operation beyond the amounts initially seized, signaling a broader drug trafficking scheme that authorities are evaluating in court.
Defense counsel for Bitter, Candid Count Pumpido, has argued that the seized item was not intended for sale. He notes that the items were found in Bitter’s belongings and argues that the amounts involved reflect personal use rather than distribution, asserting that the weight being discussed should be read as a reference to precise measurement rather than market quantities.