In Alicante, the Third Section of the Provincial Court handed down a sentence of eight years and six months in prison along with several fines to a man found in possession of more than four kilograms of cocaine at his home in Elda. He resisted and struck several officers of the National Police who arrived to arrest him, according to a statement released by the Valencian High Court of Justice on Tuesday.
The court concluded that he was the author of a crime against public health, recognizing the aggravating circumstance of recidivism. He was also found guilty of an assault offense and three counts of injuries, for which the court considered the mitigating factor of damage repair since the defendant had deposited before the trial 12,860 euros intended to compensate the officers who were injured.
The female occupant of the home, who was present at the scene, was acquitted of participating in drug sales or assisting in similar activities, as the evidence did not demonstrate her involvement in those acts.
As part of the penalty, the convict must pay a fine of 600,000 euros and compensate the police officers who were assaulted with amounts ranging from 1,960 to 2,240 euros each for the injuries inflicted.
Additionally, he will contribute 1,000 euros more to each officer for the lasting effects and another 1,300 euros to cover the medical expenses arising from the treatments and assistance they received.
The events unfolded on August 9, 2022, when authorities entered and searched the suspect’s residence in Elda after surveillance linked to the movement of drug users who frequented the premises to purchase illegal substances.
During the operation, the police seized more than 4,400 grams of cocaine, along with other drugs, 20,000 euros in cash, several mobile phones, two sharp weapons, and various tools used to weigh and prepare the drug for sale to third parties.
At the moment of apprehension, the defendant struck three officers involved in the operation, causing injuries that required medical attention and healed over a period of 14 to 21 days, depending on the individual case.
The man had previously been convicted in 2012 by the Alicante Provincial Court for drug trafficking, which led the court to apply the recidivism aggravating factor again in the current case.
The ruling is not yet final, and a challenge may be filed with the Civil and Criminal Chamber of the Valencian Community High Court of Justice, as noted by the TSJ in their statement.