A Madrid court has ordered the arrest and detention of dancer Rafael Amargo, finding a real risk of flight as he faced upcoming hearings. The decision followed a request by the prosecutor and a hearing before the 30th District Court, which ruled that Amargo should remain behind bars while awaiting trial. The detention was connected to allegations of drug trafficking in the Malasaña district, the artist’s neighbourhood in the capital, and to questions about how he would comply with future court appearances starting from April 8. Legal sources cited by El Periódico de España indicate the prosecutor sought a biweekly appearance schedule, but the court found multiple failures to appear justified the prison measure at Soto del Real.
A Madrid prison admission order reveals that Amargo was required to appear on the first and fifteenth of each month before Madrid Instruction Court No. 48, which is handling his case. The judge sought explanations after receiving statements from Amargo’s attorney, who claimed the artist suffers from a disease related to anxiety around formal appearances. The attorney also reported mistreatment by an official at Plaza Castilla where signatures were posted. Because of these concerns, a request to modify the appearance schedule was made to the Madrid Regional Court.
Additionally, the artist submitted a medical report from a psychiatric clinic in León stating a permanent disability, described as severe social phobia that makes leaving the house extremely challenging. Despite a modification of the appearance requirements and interim measures approved by the court, the defense could not show that the changes had been properly communicated or implemented. The court ultimately ordered a hearing that led to Amargo’s arrest for failing to appear and for not providing required health documentation.
The court described the defendant as being at significant risk of evading justice due to his discretion in complying with obligations and the serious consequences warned about beforehand. The ruling concluded that the charges of flight and evasion warranted imprisonment without bail.
Efforts to clarify his status extend to additional investigations. Amargo faces accusations of drug trafficking and an attack on authority following neighbor complaints about alleged drug sales at his residence on Espíritu Santo Street in Madrid. He was arrested in nearby Alicante last March and released under conditions.
Operation Codax, a case dating back to December 1, 2020, involved Amargo and his partner along with two other individuals. The operation name is derived from a Latin term for crow and is linked to Amargo’s Instagram portrayal of the bird. Prosecutors have sought a nine-year prison sentence for Amargo and his production assistant Juan Eduardo SB, accusing them of acting in concert with others to obtain and distribute narcotics. The partner in the case was also sentenced to prison on similar grounds.
The court later stated that Rafael Amargo, due to the flight risk from not signing in, should be imprisoned while the case moved forward. In the prosecutor’s narrative, the months of April through December 2020 showed a persistent focus on distributing narcotics, including methamphetamine, to other individuals in exchange for money.
The indictment highlighted an April 27, 2020, incident when another associate, facing a six-year sentence, was caught by police while preparing to deliver a bag of methamphetamine to a client. The timeline indicates the client was expected to pay after receiving the substance. Additional items found at Amargo’s residence included three bottles of a volatile solvent known as Popper, a small bag containing phenylethylamine, and a bottle with GBL, all with a stated market value. Reports from Europa Press at the time noted the quantities seized.
In summary, the legal process surrounding Rafael Amargo continues to unfold as the authorities pursue multiple charges and assess risk factors related to his appearance in court and potential flight, while maintaining ongoing investigations into drug distribution activities linked to his residence and associates. Attribution: European Press.