Else Beekman
The Irish mafia is suspected of deliberately setting fire to seven pubs in Torremolinos (Málaga) in an act of retaliation after the owners refused to pay extortion money. Police have confirmed the suspects started the fire intentionally, using accelerants.
The blaze occurred in the early hours of 24 August, around 5.00 am, when emergency services received calls about a fire in one of the bars on Avenida Salvador Allende. The flames quickly spread to neighbouring venues, damaging a total of seven commercial premises, as well as a nearby supermarket and several parked vehicles.
Police confirm arson
Forensic investigators from the Málaga Scientific Police unit have confirmed the fire was not accidental. Officers found traces of flammable substances at the scene. These led authorities to conclude it was a coordinated arson attack linked to organised crime.
The investigation, led by the Judicial Police Brigade of Málaga, points to the British mafia, believed to have targeted the pubs after the owners refused to pay an illicit “tax” for operating in what the gang claims as its territory.
The coordinated attack destroyed the outdoor terrace canopy shared by the row of pubs. One interior was completely gutted. Emergency services, including firefighters, paramedics, local and national police, responded swiftly. Fortunately, there were no injuries, though the damage was extensive.
The authorities cordoned off the area to assist investigators, who now say the method of ignition, the speed of the fire’s spread, and materials found at the site all confirm it was a planned act of arson.
Separate police operation uncovers Estepona drug den
Elsewhere on the Costa del Sol, police in Estepona have dismantled one of the area’s most active “narcopisos”. These refer to properties used for small-scale drug trafficking. The police arrested a 61-year-old woman during Operation Chocolata, which targeted a flat in the Solís neighbourhood.
The property was under surveillance by the Narcotics Unit (UDEV) after reports of frequent visitors suspected of buying drugs. Undercover officers observed constant comings and goings, with buyers often paying in stolen goods.
Police secured a search warrant after intercepting several individuals leaving the flat with freshly purchased drugs. The raid resulted in the seizure of over 500 individual doses of heroin and cocaine, as well as the closure of the drug den.
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