Mallorca drug clan probe: €20m in homes, 21 held

On Mallorca, investigators have arrested 21 people and seized 48 properties in a probe into a suspected drug clan’s house purchases in Palma. Officers searched 14 properties in Palma and Marratxí early on Tuesday, after more than a year of investigation. The arrests took place across the week; the suspects are accused of belonging to a criminal organisation and laundering money.

Nine houses behind one set of walls

Investigators say the clan led by Pablo Campos Maya, known as “El Pablo”, bought dozens of houses in Palma’s La Soledat neighbourhood with money from drug dealing. They put the value of the houses bought with suspected drug proceeds at about €20 million.

El Pablo’s home covered 1,400 square metres and had a pool, a garage and a possible escape tunnel. But property records showed nine separate houses on the site. Investigators say the clan joined the buildings inside while leaving their outside walls unchanged. The first house was bought in 1996.

Neighbours sold as prices fell

The clan also bought houses near El Pablo’s home. Investigators say neighbours sold at “extremely low” prices because they could find no other buyers. They suspect the buyers themselves had helped run down the area, pushing property prices lower.

To hide where the money came from, clan members allegedly used people to buy property on their behalf and made private agreements that were never officially registered. The Spanish National Police and the Spanish Tax Agency’s Customs Surveillance Service examined bank accounts, property documents and tax returns as part of the inquiry. During the searches, officers also seized vehicles, jewellery, firearms, packets of drugs and documents.

Topics: Palma · Campos · Marratxí

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com