Former West Bromwich Albion player arrested in Spain
A British former West Bromwich Albion player, aged 47, was taken into custody on Spain’s Costa del Sol last week after police conducted a drugs operation at a commercial premises, reports BritPanorama.
The detention occurred at the Las Terrazas Shopping Centre in Riviera del Sol, a coastal area situated between Marbella and Fuengirola. Local authorities in Mijas confirmed the arrest earlier this week, though they initially withheld information regarding the suspect’s age and nationality. The identity of the ex-footballer remains undisclosed.
It remains unclear whether the detained individual has yet appeared before an investigating magistrate, who would typically be expected to grant bail while a criminal investigation continues. Reports indicate that the establishment where the operation took place lacked the necessary opening and activity licence.
Officers had been conducting surveillance in the area on the afternoon of 10 March and noted suspicious activity, with individuals repeatedly entering and exiting the premises. Police subsequently stopped one of these customers as he departed the location. Upon searching him, officers discovered a heat-sealed bag of cannabis, which the man stated he had just bought from inside the establishment.
This interception prompted a full search of the premises, where authorities identified the person running the operation. Inside, police found a substantial haul of illegal substances totalling more than a kilogram of cannabis and 865 grams of hashish, alongside a significant quantity of cash.
Officers also seized 164 pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes that appeared ready for retail sale. Distribution paraphernalia recovered from the scene included 79 glass containers, 23 plastic jars, bags fitted with compartments designed for cannabis cigarettes, heat-sealed packaging, and two digital precision scales. Cash totalling €3,469.90 and £225 was also confiscated during the raid.
All seized substances, equipment and money were transported to the Civil Guard barracks in Mijas for processing. The operation was carried out by Mijas Local Police, with the arrested individual subsequently handed over to Civil Guard custody. Juan Carlos Cuevas, deputy mayor for Mijas and the councillor responsible for local policing, emphasised that the arrest resulted from ongoing preventive patrols designed to maintain neighbourhood safety.
This action is the result of constant preventive surveillance carried out by our local police to ensure safety in neighbourhoods and respond to concerns raised by residents and shopkeepers,” he stated. “A police presence and ongoing surveillance enable us to detect this type of situation and act swiftly.
The Las Terrazas Commercial Centre, where the operation unfolded, is a well-known destination among British tourists and expatriates residing in the region. It houses various amenities including a supermarket, dining establishments, fitness facilities and a dog grooming business. The incident serves as a reminder of the complexities that can arise even in seemingly tranquil locales, underscoring the ongoing challenges authorities face in curbing drug-related activities.
