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10 the olive press- Eastern Edition- Issue 62 the olive press- Eastern Edition- Issue 62 11 news
MEPs slam‘ Robert Mugabe school’ of land re-distribution in the Valencia region
news
10 the olive press- Eastern Edition- Issue 62 the olive press- Eastern Edition- Issue 62 11 news
Cosa Nostra del Sol
Leading Mafia experts and Italian newspapers claim Spain, particularly the Costa del Sol and Barcelona, is now the centre for global organised crime
THE rampant urban development witnessed in recent decades along the Costa del Sol has close ties with the Italian Mafia.
And the police are too inexperienced and weak to deal with these organised criminal gangs, which operate with the full complicity of some politicians on Spain’ s southern coast.
That is the damning conclusion of an investigation carried out by one of Italy’ s leading daily newspapers, La Republicca.
Quoting police chiefs in Napoli, the article calls the Costa del Sol“ a Garden of Eden” for mafiosi( gang members) on the run from Italian authorities.
Officers believe that entire families have relocated to Spain and use also parts of Catalunya and the Balearic Islands as a base.
“ These families have intimate ties with construction and even enjoy the blessing of
ONE of the principle witnesses in a town planning corruption investigation centred on Marbella has reported that attempts have been made on his life.
The un-named man claims that he has been targeted at least twice – the most recent of which was on New Year’ s Day, when a car tried to force the car he was driving off the road.
The witness, who gave evidence during the Malaya police operation that led to
HAVEN: The Costa del Sol is ideal for the Mafia, according to experts |
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the local authorities.
“ The Mafia is also involved in drugs trafficking and has hotels and shopping centres under its control. This is how La Camorra( as organised crime gangs are known in Italy) has Spain in its grip,” the article states.
The report appeared just a few days after a mafiosi boss( capo) on the run from Italy was arrested in Barcelona.
Salvatore Zazo, 52, was detained during a joint operation between the Guardia Civil and the Italian police, the Carabinieri.
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Spain and Italy recently signed an agreement to co-operate on Mafia crackdowns.
Zazo is considered to be a leading trafficker who, at one time, controlled Napoli’ s drugs supply.
“ There are a lot of mafiosi in Spain. They know the country well, and see it as a safe haven. Some invest in construction and set up companies to launder money, while others are involved with drugs or extortion,” said Carabinieri chief Gaetano Maruccia, who was involved in Zazo’ s arrest.
In December, two capos
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were arrested in Málaga and Toledo, while in September two high-ranking members of a Napolitano clan were detained in Barcelona. As the Olive Press went to press, two more capos were arrested in Madrid. |
Malaya chief witness reports attempted murders
almost 100 people being arrested and charged with fraud, bribery and embezzlement, reported to the Guardia Civil that a Renault Megane gave pursuit and rammed his car while he was driving near Ubeda in Jaen.
He also reported that gunshots were fired at him during the alleged murder attempt on January 1.
The witness, whose evidence led to the arrest of the Granada constructor Carlos Sanchez, also claims that he has received phone calls, which threaten to“ cut him in two.”
The Malaya investigation has centred on the former town planning chief of Marbella, Juan Antonio Roca, who has been accused of accepting bribes in exchange for building licences in and around the Costa del Sol resort.
Corruption svengali, tigerguarded stud farms and the Mafia, news feature, pages 12, 13 and 14
Spain comes out in defence of land grab laws
MEPs slam‘ Robert Mugabe school’ of land re-distribution in the Valencia region
SPANISH MEPs have hit back at threats to withdraw EU funding if the nation continues to abuse property rights.
As reported in issue 60, a draft report by Danish Green politician Margrete Auken – who was commissioned by the European Parliament to investigate property and environmental abuse in Spain – suggested that Brussels could turn off the financial tap if planning abuses continue.
In particular, the report singled out Valencia’ s‘ land grab laws,’ which enable housing developers to build housing schemes on people’ s private land and force owners to cofund the construction.
But in a debate on the draft, which involved land grab victims, MEPS and representatives from the regional government of Valencia, politicians from Spain’ s right wing Partido Popular( PP) defended the expropriation laws, claiming they respect EU legislation.
Speaking at the meeting of the European Union’ s petitions committee in Brussels, Auken said that“ thousands” of people have been affected by land grab laws.“ One right
LAND GRAB: Valencia and Mugabe( inset) is the right to live peacefully in one’ s own home,” she added.
Spain hit back, with PP member Maria Angeles Ureña stating that the expropriation laws“ contain sustainable development guarantees.”
Throughout the debate, land grab was criticised by the majority of the attendees. British MEP Roger Helmer said he was“ outraged” at Spain’ s response to the draft.
“ There is no democratic legitimacy in property confiscation. It is just plain theft. I am shocked at the outrageous contribution from the representative of the Valencia regional government.
“ This is the Robert Mugabe school of land re-distribution,” he said in reference to the African leader, who has taken land from farmers who do not support him.
One victim of land grab – a Spanish national – said:“ Developers are undermining our countryside and our economic potential for tourism. Property speculation is a major social ill and a source of destruction for our cultural heritage.”
Backed by socialist PSOE politicians, the PP also demanded that Auken removes suggestions that funding to Spain will be stopped if her report is not acted upon.
The two groups also want an end to the planned investigations into building projects that break EU water directives.
Last year, Spain’ s Green MEP, David Hammerstein, asked Brussels to probe at least 250 housing projects that do not have a guaranteed water supply.
The draft will be voted on in European Parliament in March.