A 57-year-old Irish man has been arrested by the Guardia Civil in Orihuela Costa after he was found to be the subject of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by the Prague District Court No. 3, in the Czech Republic.
The man, who was linked to international drug trafficking activities, was arrested as he was disposing of rubbish outside his home.
The detainee, wanted for drug trafficking and membership of an organised criminal group, was placed at the disposal of the Orihuela Court, which, after deliberation with the National Court, has ordered his release with precautionary measures.
The operation began on November 5 when officers from Pilar de la Horadada noticed a car that was performing a suspicious manoeuvre after spotting the police vehicle. The vehicle he was driving had a Spanish license plate but was right-hand drive, raising suspicions that its driver could be a foreigner. After confirming that the car was not listed as stolen, the officers recorded the license plate for later analysis.
Police databases subsequently confirmed that the owner of the vehicle, a 57-year-old Irish citizen, had been subject to an active European Arrest Warrant since September of this year. His address in Orihuela Costa was located, which allowed the planning for his arrest the following morning.
The coordinated intervention allowed the arrest of this individual, who, according to the warrant, was part of a criminal organization dedicated to drug trafficking, operating in several countries, including the Czech Republic, Spain, the USA, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Australia.
