Spanish Civil Guard Officer Denies Role in International Cocaine Smuggling Ring

During this first of the nine hearings of the trial against UAG, the Civil Guard accused of drug trafficking refused to answer the prosecution’s questions, stating that he did not facilitate the drug trafficking from South America to Cartagena, reports 20minutos.

In the indictment, the prosecution claims that the agent and the other arrested persons intended to introduce into Spain, through the port of Esombreras, more than 100 kilograms of cocaine from South American ports. The agent UAG was supposed to receive, in exchange for his intervention, the tidy sum of 35,000 euros. For his part, JAMS, a childhood friend of UAG, would have served as a liaison with the Colombian party located in Madrid, and would have helped the agent to carry out the agreed plan.

To read: Civil Guard Officers Arrested in Spain-Morocco Drug Trafficking Scandal

JMRN, one of the Colombian defendants residing in Madrid, declared at the hearing that he had never met the Civil Guard during the network’s meetings. The prosecution has requested against him a sentence of 12 years in prison and the payment of a daily fine of 20 euros over a period of 20 months. JAMS, for his part, admitted to having collaborated with the network in order to introduce drugs into Spain. For his part, GNL, a British national, stated that he had contacted the agent who was willing to collaborate with the network to introduce tobacco or hashish from Morocco into Spain.

The defendants, including the Civil Guard, all denied the facts they are accused of. The prosecution has requested sentences ranging from three to fourteen years against them. Another of the detainees, MIV, a ministry of justice official serving at the Cartagena court of inquiry, maintained "a close relationship" with one of the main members of the network. He was responsible for reporting any operation or legal action or advising on the steps to be taken when a possible police investigation was about to be opened.