A 47-year-old former West Bromwich Albion footballer faces arrest after authorities conducted a drug raid at a shopping center on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
The Incident Unfolds
Officers detained the man last week as he exited the Las Terrazas Shopping Centre in Riviera del Sol, located between Marbella and Fuengirola. They discovered him carrying a heat-sealed bag of cannabis. A subsequent search of the nearby premises he had left uncovered additional narcotics and related materials.
Local police in Mijas, where Riviera del Sol is situated, confirmed the arrest earlier this week. They identified the suspect as the person in charge of the premises but withheld his name, age, and nationality initially. It remains unclear if he has appeared before an investigating judge, who could release him on bail during the ongoing probe.
Police Operation Details
Surveillance on March 10 revealed suspicious activity at the premises, with individuals entering and exiting frequently. Officers intercepted one customer carrying cannabis he claimed to have purchased inside.
The search yielded 1,170 grams of cannabis, 865 grams of hashish, and a substantial amount of cash, along with preparation and distribution tools. All items were seized and transferred to the Civil Guard.
A Mijas Local Police statement outlined the action: ‘Mijas Local Police have arrested a man on suspicion of an offence against public health following an operation at premises in the Las Terrazas Shopping Centre in Riviera del Sol.’
Seized Items and Evidence
Authorities confiscated two bags of cannabis weighing 489 grams and 681 grams, 865 grams of hashish resin, and 164 ready-to-sell cannabis cigarettes. Additional finds included 79 glass jars, 23 plastic jars, compartmentalized bags, heat-sealed envelopes, two precision digital scales, €3,469.90, and £225 in cash.
The premises operated without a proper opening or activity license. Las Terrazas Commercial Centre attracts British holidaymakers and expats, featuring a supermarket, restaurants, gym, and dog grooming salon.
Official Response
Juan Carlos Cuevas, Mijas deputy mayor and councillor overseeing local police, emphasized proactive measures: ‘This action is the result of constant preventive surveillance carried out by our local police to ensure safety in neighbourhoods and respond to concerns raised by residents and shopkeepers. A police presence and ongoing surveillance enable us to detect this type of situation and act swiftly.’
