National Police officers have detained a man who was found with more than 200 kilograms of hashish concealed inside a van. The seizure occurred on the A-7 near Monforte del Cid, according to sources close to the case. The operation took place last weekend after officers conducting a routine control noticed unusual movements from the vehicle when the driver detected the police presence. The suspect was released after paying a 10,000 euro bail set by the guard court in Novelda, following a court appearance, and provided legal representation by attorney Natalia Ibarz Manuel.
Los hechos ocurrrieron durante la tarde del pasado 31 de agosto mientras los agentes se encontraban regresando de otro servicio policial por la autovía AP-7. Sobre las 21.15 horas observaron que una furgoneta realizaba una maniobra extraña, cruzando una línea continua en una bifurcación y que estuvo a punto de provocar un accidente con otro vehículo.
The arrest and subsequent release come after a routine stop on the highway where officers observed a van execute a suspicious maneuver, nearly causing a collision at a highway split. They activated the vehicle’s lights and sirens, directing it to stop at the Monforte del Cid toll plaza. When questioned about his destination, the driver claimed he was headed to Barcelona but appeared nervous. He suggested he had missed the toll exit by accident before being asked to account for the near-miss incident.
El arrestado elude la prisión tras pagar un fianza de 10.000 euros ante un juzgado de Novelda
During a preliminary inspection, police noted a strong hashish odor emanating from the van, prompting officers to open the side hatch and discover a bale of hashish tucked beneath a blanket. Investigators also observed that the luggage compartment did not match the vehicle’s expected space, raising suspicions of a hidden compartment used to conceal additional drugs.
The driver was detained and the vehicle transported to the Provincial Police Station for a more thorough search. In the hidden compartment, four additional bales were found containing what appeared to be hashish, pending laboratory confirmation. Police also recovered 1,255 euros in cash, suspected to stem from drug trafficking activities.
Value of the seized drugs
The police estimate that the confiscated narcotics could have reached a market value of 387,683 euros. The man was arrested and brought before the guard court in Novelda. The judge ordered provisional detention with bail. While a risk of flight was considered given the intensity of the potential penalty and the suspect’s Moroccan nationality, the defense argued that he has established ties in Spain, including legal residency, a spouse and children, and stable employment with a transport company. These factors contributed to the decision to pursue alternatives to pretrial detention while awaiting trial.
The court set the bail at 10,000 euros, required the surrender of the suspect’s passport, and ordered biweekly appearances before the judiciary. The suspect has since paid the bail and is currently released under these conditions.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns about organized drug trafficking and the use of concealment tactics in commercial transport. Law enforcement authorities continue to monitor cross-border routes and conduct joint operations to disrupt the flow of narcotics through road networks. The analysis of the seized material will confirm the specific substance and its purity, providing critical data for the ongoing case and any related investigations.