Britons arrested during dawn raids in Magaluf which resulted in huge cocaine and cash seizures were hauled to court today.
Several women were among those led into the court building in the Majorcan capital Palma for their first appearance before an investigating magistrate.
Civil Guards aided by officers from Britain’s National Crime Agency arrested more than a dozen suspects on Thursday in Magaluf and Palma.
Britons arrested during dawn raids in Magaluf which resulted in huge cocaine and cash seizures were hauled to court today
Several women were among those led into the court building in the Majorcan capital Palma for their first appearance before a magistrate
Operation Tatum, led to the seizure of 3.5 kilos of cocaine worth around £150,000 as well as speed, cannabis resin, and more than £100,000 in cash
Of the 14 people held by heavily-armed detectives, who wore balaclavas and were supported by a police helicopter, around 10 are thought to be British.
The operation, called Operation Tatum, led to the seizure of 3.5 kilos of cocaine worth around £150,000 as well as speed, cannabis resin, and more than £100,000 in cash.
Around two kilos of cocaine were found in the boot of a car parked in a garage in Palma and more of the class-A drug was found inside a shoebox.
Police, who have described the suspects as members of a ‘criminal organisation’ selling drugs in Magaluf party strip Punta Ballena where most holidaymakers in the summer are British and Irish, were due to reveal more details at a press conference today.
Local reports said the gang was selling around eight kilos of cocaine a month and smuggling drugs into Majorca on speedboats they used to go to Barcelona and back in the same day.
Several people working as club and bar reps in Punta Ballena, whose job involves enticing customers in for drinks, are thought to be among those arrested.
Police allege the suspects were part of a gang pushing drugs to holidaymakers on the Magaluf strip
More than £100,000 in cash was seized in dawn raids (pictured)
Operation Tatum was linked to a major drugs bust last summer in Majorca called Operation Daju, which resulted in the arrest of five Brits and seizure of 4.8 kilos of cocaine
Luxury watches – including Rolex and Cartier (pictured) were also seized in the raids
They are expected to be remaned in custody after their hearings, held in private, pending an ongoing judicial investigation. Further arrests have not been ruled out.
Operation Tatum was linked to a major drugs bust last summer in Majorca called Operation Daju, which resulted in the arrest of five Brits and seizure of 4.8 kilos of cocaine.
The suspects held then included Nelson Delgado, 29.
The Portuguese-born DJ, who moved to the UK as a child, had sex in his cell at Aylesbury Young Offenders Institution with prison officer Kelly-Anne McDade.
The names of the British suspects (one suspect pictured) never emerged
At the time he was serving an indeterminate sentence for aggravated burglary and assault after attacking a couple in their own home.
McDade, 31, when their child was born in February 2009, had to resign after she was caught on CCTV opening Delgado’s cell door when all cell doors should have been locked for the night in August 2008.
She was jailed for 30 months at Aylesbury Crown Court in November 2009.
Delgado later moved to Spain and was jailed for two and two months in August 2015 for a 2013 Halloween Night knife attack on three men at a bar in Magaluf’s party strip Punta Ballena.
His brother Fabio was also arrested along with a club rep called Ryan Carl Fleming, then 25.
They were remanded in custody after appearing before a judge in a closed hearing pending an ongoing criminal probe. The names of the other Brits detained at the time never emerged.
It was not immediately clear today whether or not they are still in prison awaiting trial and how the judicial investigation against them has proceeded.