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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 .