News
Dumps denuncia
The three parties which make up the tripartite administration at Nerja Town Hall have denounced the former Partido Popular administration over its action on two illegal rubbish dumps in the municipality . The complaints from the PSOE , IU and EVA-Podemos allege environmental offences , breach of trust and forgery . The larger dump , covering 60,000 square metres , is already is the subject of a judicial inquiry .
Nerja donation
A British resident in Nerja has donated 200 books on history and architecture to the town ’ s museum . John Victor Day from Leicester has been thanked for the collection , “ which undoubtedly is to the benefit of all .” In the future , the museum is to create an area for visitors to be able to research the books and other materials already in its library .
Artist dies
The British artist Rowland Fade ( pictured ), who lived in Almuñécar since 1995 , has died aged 78 . He held numerous exhibitions of his work in Spain and other European countries , with his last at Almuñécar ’ s Casa de Cultura just six months ago . Local culture councillor Olga Ruano said the town had been “ orphaned ” by the death of , “ a great artist of visual arts .”
Drugs haul
Two boats carrying a total of eight tons of drugs en route to Spain have been intercepted by Spanish and Ecuadorian police . Over 20 people have been detained during operations to break up what the Interior Ministry called , “ a huge organisation ” smuggling narcotics from South America to Europe . Four people in Madrid and Vigo , thought to be the organisers , have also been detained .
Public support after Banderas ’ withdrawal
Several hundred people gathered in Málaga ’ s plaza de la Constitución last month to show support for city-born actor Antonio Banderas ( pictured ) who had just announced he was pulling out of project to build a new cultural centre in Plaza de la Merced . Banderas explained his decision in a letter in which he wrote that it was based on “ insults , smears and humiliating treatment .”
Banderas had been backing the group Ecos Urbanos ( Urban Echoes ) which put forward plans to redevelop the site of two disused cinemas , the Astoria and the Victoria , which are due for demolition . The block was bought by the city in 2010 for € 21.7 million , and the town hall ran a contest to find a new use for the area .
In April , the Ecos Urbanos plan for a cultural centre , including theatres , acting and directing courses with funding for Málaga students , events halls and music and dance workshops , was announced as the winner . However , opposition parties have criticised the Partido Popular , which governs the city in a minority , suggesting Banderas was given
National Police in Málaga have arrested five people alleged to be members of a gang which exported marijuana to the UK hidden in lorry-loads of marble tiles . Three people in the Merseyside area of England are amongst the total of 24 suspects who have been detained .
The gang had members in Cataluña and Valencia , as well as in Málaga , and the majority of those being question are between 22 and 25 years old . The two gang leaders are understood to be amongst those detained .
The son-in-law of one of the leaders , also detained , is believed to have been in charge of those growing cannabis and for the gang ’ s accounts . Five cultivations of the drug have been preferential treatment in their choice . The final straw for the actor appears to have been when a suggestion was made that the result of the competition be annulled .
The rally was attended by Mayor Francisco de la Torre and by the project ’ s architect , José Seguí , who has also indicated he will withdraw . The organisers read out a manifesto asking Banderas to reconsider , as well as asking local politicians not to “ play ” with the interests of Málaga . The actor ’ s supporters have also launched a petition on change . org which has attracted over 20,000 signatures .
Gang sent drugs to UK hidden in tiles
seized during the operation with around 1,600 plants destroyed . Also confiscated was an industrial packing machine and € 120,000 in cash found hidden in a box of shoes .
The police investigation began on Merseyside in June 2016 after three people were arrested on suspicion of importing drugs . Two brothers in Spain were then identified as leading the gang and being responsible for planning the transportation of drugs to the UK .
A warehouse in Tarragona was found to be where the drugs were loaded onto lorries and led to the search of 12 properties in the provinces of Málaga , Barcelona , Tarragona , and Alicante .
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