The cold storage in a refrigerator revealed a hidden floor compartment used by three suspects involved in a drug operation. Investigators say cocaine and cash were concealed beneath a false bottom, a clever ruse to evade discovery. The National Police units stationed in Alicante and Mutxamel coordinated efforts after a lengthy inquiry into illicit activity in the region. A central figure is accused of distributing marijuana and cocaine to buyers across the province. During searches at a residence in Mutxamel and a seaside recreational area at San Juan, authorities recovered 650 grams of cocaine, 600 grams of marijuana, and 46,000 euros in cash. The bulk of the contraband and money were placed behind the freezer’s plastic floor, according to police findings.
The investigation began in 2021 when residents in the Alicante area provided information suggesting a drug trafficking operation. In response, investigators conducted surveillance, monitoring, and identification work that confirmed the suspects frequented certain homes and buildings in Alicante. The individuals moved in and out of the same locations, implemented security measures, and maintained contact with others involved in illegal drug activity.
The operation intensified when officers intercepted one of the suspects as he approached a residence and carried out a search with proper warrants. A seizure of 130 grams of cocaine prompted further warrants to search two additional addresses and another person linked to the case in Mutxamel and a venue near San Juan beach.
In two separate operations, the drugs and money were seized, resulting in the arrest of a man and a woman who were identified as the principal organizers of possession, distribution, and sale of the substances involved.
The majority of the cash and narcotics were discovered in a storage area that concealed the contents under the freezer’s false bottom at the registered address. Officers also confiscated other items used to transport and distribute the drugs, including precise weighing scales and two tools linked to the distribution network across the province.
The three detainees — two men and a woman aged between 39 and 47 — were brought before a local court in Alicante. They were represented by legal counsel, and while one individual faced a prison sentence, bail was posted and release followed. The case was investigated by the Narcotics Group of the Elche police station alongside the Drugs and Organized Crime Unit (UDYCO) of the Provincial Police, with contributions from the Special Response Group for Organized Crime GRECO and the General Commissioner of Judicial Police.