Latest news with #Alicante
The Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Brits face SMOKING BAN in Spain with lighting up around the pool, in outdoor clubs & even on sunny terraces outlawed
BRITS heading to Spain this summer may be in for a surprise as a tough new smoking ban has been proposed - applying to even terraces, swimming pools and open-air nightclubs. The measure was inspired by an anti-smoking plan aimed at expanding smoke-free zones across Spain. 4 4 The purpose of the law is to extend smoke-free zones to include terraces, bus stops, work vehicles, university campuses, communal swimming pools and open-air nightclubs. Spain's Minister of Health Mónica García told El Pais that she was pushing for the measure so that "Spain can once again be at the forefront of anti-tobacco policies." She added: "I hope we don't give in to the lobbies that are exerting significant pressure, as they always have. "And the tobacco lobby is doing its job. But ours is to defend the health of the population, of the citizens." Spain's Ministry of Health confirmed the measure today and the bill awaits approval from Spain's Council of Ministers followed by the country's parliament. There, it will have to be agreed by other parties before it is made an official law. While this smoking ban will be nationwide, bans have recently been implemented across Spanish beaches. A smoking ban on L'Albir, a popular beach in Alicante, was announced in March. The mayor of L'Alfas Vincente Arques said: "This measure is part of the council's policy to position ourselves as a benchmark for healthy international tourism." It comes as the country has been hit by a wave of protests against overtourism. Thousands flooded the streets of the Canary Islands in mid-May in Spain's third wave of protests this year. Protests have taken place in Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Ela Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, and Lanzarote. 4
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Sun, sand and suspects: How Spain seduces fugitive criminals
MADRID, May 28 — With its sun-drenched beaches and vibrant nightlife, Spain has long been a top destination — not just for tourists, but also for criminals looking to vanish. From drug traffickers to sex offenders and cybercriminals, fugitives from around the globe flock to Spain's coastal havens. That gamble rarely pays off: police stress that their chances of evading justice are slim. 'We're arresting new people every day,' said Fernando Gonzalez, the head of an elite Spanish police unit set up in 2004 to hunt down criminals on the run. 'Spain remains a very attractive place for traffickers,' he added. Last year, his unit arrested 460 fugitives — mostly foreigners — across Spain, up from 390 in 2023. The pace has not slowed this year. Recent high-profile arrests underscore the European country's ongoing appeal to fugitives. In October 2024, police in Barcelona arrested Serbian national Nikola Vusovic, a suspected leader of a major crime gang from Montenegro, the Kavac clan. At the start of this year, officers arrested the leader of a brutal Peruvian mafia group, Omar Luis Castaneda, near the Mediterranean city of Alicante over his suspected involvement in 16 murders in the Latin American country. And in February, police in southern Spain arrested one of the gunmen who in 2024 ambushed a prison van in France to free a drug lord, Mohamed Amra, killing two prison guards. The fugitive was living in a luxury villa at the time. 'We deal with a wide range of profiles,' from major criminals to petty offenders, as well as a wide range of nationalities, Gonzalez said as he scanned the latest list of arrests, which included Moroccans, French nationals and a growing number of Latin Americans. 'Blend in' Spain's role as a haven for those trying to evade justice is 'historic', a French investigator told AFP on condition of anonymity. 'It's not just a hideout for fugitives... it's also home to career criminals who operate between Morocco, Spain and France.' Spain is home to a large number of expatriates and is the world's second-most-visited country, having welcomed a record 94 million foreign tourists last year, which makes it easier for fugitives to go unnoticed. With its sun-drenched beaches and vibrant nightlife, Spain has long been a top destination — not just for tourists, but also for criminals looking to vanish. — AFP pic 'It's a place with a high quality of life. It's easy to rent quiet villas with swimming pools. People blend in,' the French investigator said. Criminal defence lawyer and former extradition judge Carlos Bautista said Spain's location 'at the crossroads' of Europe, the Americas and Africa makes it a natural hiding spot for runaway criminals. Gonzalez said fugitives can often easily find 'contacts who can help' them among the large community of foreigners who live in Spain. He cited as an example the case of a German woman who was arrested in the Balearic Islands where she had lived for years without speaking Spanish. 'Cat-and-mouse game' - Most fugitives are found along Spain's Mediterranean coast where expat communities are concentrated. Malaga and Marbella on the Costa del Sol, which has long been a popular destination for British expats and tourists, are top picks for criminals on the run, said Bautista. Laying low on the coast does not guarantee safety — these are regions with some of the highest arrest rates. Members of Spanish Guardia Civil, supported by Europol, arrest a man during an operation against drug trafficking in Mijas, near Malaga June 12, 2024. — AFP pic 'It's a cat-and-mouse game. But we usually find them. It just takes patience,' said Gonzalez. Police credit wiretaps, monitoring social media and, above all, close international cooperation for their success. Through ENFAST, a network of police officers from across Europe who work together to locate internationally wanted criminals, Spain has become a leader in cross-border arrests. 'Spain is extremely active in extraditions. Sooner or later, fugitives get caught,' said Bautista. The walls of Gonzalez's elite police unit are lined with mugshots and mementos from years of operations. 'There may be fugitives living quietly among us. But that doesn't mean they will escape forever,' he said. — AFP
CTV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Sun, sand and suspects: Spain seduces fugitive criminals
Tourists sunbathe on the beach at the Spanish Balearic Island of Mallorca, Spain, Monday, June 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Ubilla) Madrid, Spain -- With its sun-drenched beaches and vibrant nightlife, Spain has long been a top destination -- not just for tourists, but also for criminals looking to vanish. From drug traffickers to sex offenders and cybercriminals, fugitives from around the globe flock to Spain's coastal havens. That gamble rarely pays off: police stress that their chances of evading justice are slim. 'We're arresting new people every day,' said Fernando Gonzalez, the head of an elite Spanish police unit set up in 2004 to hunt down criminals on the run. 'Spain remains a very attractive place for traffickers,' he added. Last year, his unit arrested 460 fugitives -- mostly foreigners -- across Spain, up from 390 in 2023. The pace has not slowed this year. Recent high-profile arrests underscore the European country's ongoing appeal to fugitives. In October 2024, police in Barcelona arrested Serbian national Nikola Vusovic, a suspected leader of a major crime gang from Montenegro, the Kavac clan. At the start of this year, officers arrested the leader of a brutal Peruvian mafia group, Omar Luis Castaneda, near the Mediterranean city of Alicante over his suspected involvement in 16 murders in the Latin American country. And in February, police in southern Spain arrested one of the gunmen who in 2024 ambushed a prison van in France to free a drug lord, Mohamed Amra, killing two prison guards. The fugitive was living in a luxury villa at the time. 'We deal with a wide range of profiles,' from major criminals to petty offenders, as well as a wide range of nationalities, Gonzalez said as he scanned the latest list of arrests, which included Moroccans, French nationals and a growing number of Latin Americans. 'Blend in' Spain's role as a haven for those trying to evade justice is 'historic,' a French investigator told AFP on condition of anonymity. 'It's not just a hideout for fugitives... it's also home to career criminals who operate between Morocco, Spain and France.' Spain is home to a large number of expatriates and is the world's second-most-visited country, having welcomed a record 94 million foreign tourists last year, which makes it easier for fugitives to go unnoticed. 'It's a place with a high quality of life. It's easy to rent quiet villas with swimming pools. People blend in,' the French investigator said. Criminal defence lawyer and former extradition judge Carlos Bautista said Spain's location 'at the crossroads' of Europe, the Americas and Africa makes it a natural hiding spot for runaway criminals. Gonzalez said fugitives can often easily find 'contacts who can help' them among the large community of foreigners who live in Spain. He cited as an example the case of a German woman who was arrested in the Balearic Islands where she had lived for years without speaking Spanish. 'Cat-and-mouse game' Most fugitives are found along Spain's Mediterranean coast where expat communities are concentrated. Malaga and Marbella on the Costa del Sol, which has long been a popular destination for British expats and tourists, are top picks for criminals on the run, said Bautista. Laying low on the coast does not guarantee safety -- these are regions with some of the highest arrest rates. 'It's a cat-and-mouse game. But we usually find them. It just takes patience,' said Gonzalez. Police credit wiretaps, monitoring social media and, above all, close international cooperation for their success. Through ENFAST, a network of police officers from across Europe who work together to locate internationally wanted criminals, Spain has become a leader in cross-border arrests. 'Spain is extremely active in extraditions. Sooner or later, fugitives get caught,' said Bautista. The walls of Gonzalez's elite police unit are lined with mugshots and mementos from years of operations. 'There may be fugitives living quietly among us. But that doesn't mean they will escape forever,' he said. By Valentin Bontemps, AFP
Japan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
Sun, sand and suspects: Spain tackles fugitives seeking a haven
With its sun-drenched beaches and vibrant nightlife, Spain has long been a top destination — not just for tourists, but also for criminals looking to vanish. From drug traffickers to sex offenders and cybercriminals, fugitives from around the globe flock to Spain's coastal havens. That gamble rarely pays off: police stress that their chances of evading justice are slim. "We're arresting new people every day," said Fernando Gonzalez, the head of an elite Spanish police unit set up in 2004 to hunt down criminals on the run. "Spain remains a very attractive place for traffickers," he added. Last year, his unit arrested 460 fugitives — mostly foreigners — across Spain, up from 390 in 2023. The pace has not slowed this year. Recent high-profile arrests underscore the European country's ongoing appeal to fugitives. In October 2024, police in Barcelona arrested Serbian national Nikola Vusovic, a suspected leader of a major crime gang from Montenegro, the Kavac clan. At the start of this year, officers arrested the leader of a brutal Peruvian mafia group, Omar Luis Castaneda, near the Mediterranean city of Alicante over his suspected involvement in 16 murders in the Latin American country. And in February, police in southern Spain arrested one of the gunmen who in 2024 ambushed a prison van in France to free a drug lord, Mohamed Amra, killing two prison guards. The fugitive was living in a luxury villa at the time. "We deal with a wide range of profiles," from major criminals to petty offenders, as well as a wide range of nationalities, Gonzalez said as he scanned the latest list of arrests, which included Moroccans, French nationals and a growing number of Latin Americans. 'Blend in' Spain's role as a haven for those trying to evade justice is "historic," a French investigator said on condition of anonymity. "It's not just a hideout for fugitives ... it's also home to career criminals who operate between Morocco, Spain and France." Spain is home to a large number of expatriates and is the world's second-most-visited country, having welcomed a record 94 million foreign tourists last year, which makes it easier for fugitives to go unnoticed. "It's a place with a high quality of life. It's easy to rent quiet villas with swimming pools. People blend in," the French investigator said. Criminal defense lawyer and former extradition judge Carlos Bautista said Spain's location "at the crossroads" of Europe, the Americas and Africa makes it a natural hiding spot for runaway criminals. Gonzalez said fugitives can often easily find "contacts who can help" them among the large community of foreigners who live in Spain. He cited as an example the case of a German woman who was arrested in the Balearic Islands where she had lived for years without speaking Spanish. 'Cat-and-mouse game' Most fugitives are found along Spain's Mediterranean coast where expat communities are concentrated. Malaga and Marbella on the Costa del Sol, which has long been a popular destination for British expats and tourists, are top picks for criminals on the run, said Bautista. Laying low on the coast does not guarantee safety — these are regions with some of the highest arrest rates. "It's a cat-and-mouse game. But we usually find them. It just takes patience," said Gonzalez. Police credit wiretaps, monitoring social media and, above all, close international cooperation for their success. Through ENFAST, a network of police officers from across Europe who work together to locate internationally wanted criminals, Spain has become a leader in cross-border arrests. "Spain is extremely active in extraditions. Sooner or later, fugitives get caught," said Bautista. The walls of Gonzalez's elite police unit are lined with mugshots and mementos from years of operations. "There may be fugitives living quietly among us. But that doesn't mean they will escape forever," he said.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sun, sand and suspects: Spain seduces fugitive criminals
With its sun-drenched beaches and vibrant nightlife, Spain has long been a top destination -- not just for tourists, but also for criminals looking to vanish. From drug traffickers to sex offenders and cybercriminals, fugitives from around the globe flock to Spain's coastal havens. That gamble rarely pays off: police stress that their chances of evading justice are slim. "We're arresting new people every day," said Fernando Gonzalez, the head of an elite Spanish police unit set up in 2004 to hunt down criminals on the run. "Spain remains a very attractive place for traffickers," he added. Last year, his unit arrested 460 fugitives -- mostly foreigners -- across Spain, up from 390 in 2023. The pace has not slowed this year. Recent high-profile arrests underscore the European country's ongoing appeal to fugitives. In October 2024, police in Barcelona arrested Serbian national Nikola Vusovic, a suspected leader of a major crime gang from Montenegro, the Kavac clan. At the start of this year, officers arrested the leader of a brutal Peruvian mafia group, Omar Luis Castaneda, near the Mediterranean city of Alicante over his suspected involvement in 16 murders in the Latin American country. And in February, police in southern Spain arrested one of the gunmen who in 2024 ambushed a prison van in France to free a drug lord, Mohamed Amra, killing two prison guards. The fugitive was living in a luxury villa at the time. "We deal with a wide range of profiles," from major criminals to petty offenders, as well as a wide range of nationalities, Gonzalez said as he scanned the latest list of arrests, which included Moroccans, French nationals and a growing number of Latin Americans. - 'Blend in' - Spain's role as a haven for those trying to evade justice is "historic", a French investigator told AFP on condition of anonymity. "It's not just a hideout for fugitives... it's also home to career criminals who operate between Morocco, Spain and France." Spain is home to a large number of expatriates and is the world's second-most-visited country, having welcomed a record 94 million foreign tourists last year, which makes it easier for fugitives to go unnoticed. "It's a place with a high quality of life. It's easy to rent quiet villas with swimming pools. People blend in," the French investigator said. Criminal defence lawyer and former extradition judge Carlos Bautista said Spain's location "at the crossroads" of Europe, the Americas and Africa makes it a natural hiding spot for runaway criminals. Gonzalez said fugitives can often easily find "contacts who can help" them among the large community of foreigners who live in Spain. He cited as an example the case of a German woman who was arrested in the Balearic Islands where she had lived for years without speaking Spanish. - 'Cat-and-mouse game' - Most fugitives are found along Spain's Mediterranean coast where expat communities are concentrated. Malaga and Marbella on the Costa del Sol, which has long been a popular destination for British expats and tourists, are top picks for criminals on the run, said Bautista. Laying low on the coast does not guarantee safety -- these are regions with some of the highest arrest rates. "It's a cat-and-mouse game. But we usually find them. It just takes patience," said Gonzalez. Police credit wiretaps, monitoring social media and, above all, close international cooperation for their success. Through ENFAST, a network of police officers from across Europe who work together to locate internationally wanted criminals, Spain has become a leader in cross-border arrests. "Spain is extremely active in extraditions. Sooner or later, fugitives get caught," said Bautista. The walls of Gonzalez's elite police unit are lined with mugshots and mementos from years of operations. "There may be fugitives living quietly among us. But that doesn't mean they will escape forever," he said. sm-vab/ds/imm/jhb
