Gang of Portuguese drug dealers who sold Liverpool and Tottenham fans fake cocaine appear in court in Madrid
- A gang of Portuguese drug dealers sold fake cocaine to football fans in Madrid
- Spanish police arrested 17 members of the same family on Friday and Saturday
- The gang appeared in court this week on suspicion of drug dealing and fraud
A gang of Portuguese drug dealers have appeared in court in Madrid after being arrested for selling Liverpool and Spurs fans fake cocaine.
A Spanish National Police spokesperson confirmed 17 suspected drug dealers, who travelled to Madrid from Lisbon to cash in on the arrival of 80,000 British football supporters for the Champions League final, had been arrested. She said: ‘The white powder seized is currently being analysed at a lab.’
A well-placed source said: ‘All the suspects are Portuguese. The relationship between them is something that is currently under investigation.’
Respected Spanish daily El Mundo said they were suspected of selling a white powder ‘similar to cocaine’ at £17.75 (€20) a gram they had bought in a chemist’s for just 62p.
A gang of Portuguese dealers have appeared in court after selling fake cocaine to Liverpool and Tottenham fans (not pictured)
The arrests were made in central Madrid square Plaza Mayor, Plaza de Jacinto Benavente and Puerta del Sol, the areas where thousands of fans congregated ahead of Saturday’s final.
The suspects, aged 21 to 39, have been released on bail after appearing in court pending an ongoing probe.
Two of the men are understood to have been detained after approaching uncover cops and offering them ‘good cocaine’ before producing a sachet of white powder which they claimed was the class-A drug.
The suspects, who admitted to police they had travelled to Spain from Portugal for the weekend, were arrested on Friday and Saturday.
80,000 British football supporters travelled to Madrid for the Champions League final
They are being investigated on suspicion of drug dealing and fraud.
It was not immediately clear on Tuesday if they had been banned from travelling while the probe against them continues or if they will be able to return home before being summonsed for trial.
Police in Madrid could not be reached early on Tuesday morning to comment on the arrests or say how many football fans were believed to have parted with cash.
The exact nature of the mystery white powder that was being sold has not been revealed, although cocaine is known to be cut up with talcum powder, worm powder and baking soda.
There have been no reports of Liverpool or Spurs fans being taken to hospital as a result of consuming potentially lethal substances passed off as cocaine.