Migration
Spanish coastguards rescued 401 migrants trying to cross the Med over the first two days of the new year.
The news comes just days after a charity rescue vessel carrying 311 mainly African migrants rescued off the coast of Libya docked in Spain, ending a traumatic journey which saw them spend Christmas at sea.
A coastguard spokesman said they had rescued 111 migrants on Tuesday in the Strait of Gibraltar and Alboran Sea.
She added 290 more were rescued yesterday.
The Spanish Committee for Refugee Aid says the number is the highest since 2006.
Drug Money
Guardia Civil officers have arrested 20 people in connection with an investigation into the alleged laundering of the profits from drugs trafficking off the Costa del Sol.
Police searched a home in Estepona and carried out eight raids in Cadiz Province during the probe. One suspect allegedly laundered drugs profits of around €2.75 million, investigators claimed.
The group is believed to be made up of two companies and a total of 69 suspects. The gang transported drugs in boats off the Costa del Sol and the Bay of Cadiz.
Drug Driver
Police on Ibiza arrested a driver who tested positive for five drugs, local authorities said yesterday.
The 31 year old man was driving “erroneously” and “manifestly reckless” when he was stopped early on New Year’s Day by police officers.
He was found to be under the influence of cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, cannabis and amphetamine; all substances that police tests are able to detect.
The officers carried out a search owing to the driver’s suspicious and nervous behavior, and found various pills and substances inside his clothing.
The man was arrested on suspicion of endangering public health and putting road safety at risk.
American Arrested
The owner of one of ‘Chicago’s hottest restaurants’ has been arrested in Spain with his wife on fraud charges.
Attila Gyulai, 46, was caught late December in Valencia, after he and wife abruptly shut his Embeya restaurant, abandoned their car and fled the US in 2016.
In February 2018, an arrest warrant was filed for Gyulai as he was charged with wire fraud and swindling his fellow investors of at least $300,000, according to an affidavit.
newspaper Las Provincias reports that an investigation in Valencia began on December 27 when Gyulai was spotted arriving at the airport from Ecuador.
The FBI has issued an order for him to be extradited to the US.