Expat Residents In Estepona Terrified Of Drug Smugglers

Following a raid by local police, British expats living in the Costa del Sol city of Estepona were shocked to find a popular beach littered with drugs and jet skis after a police raid.

It’s no news nowadays that Spain’s famous Costas are reverting to their former reputation as homes-from-home for a good many of the UK’s most-wanted Mafia-style gang bosses but, somehow, foreign drug dealers and smugglers don’t have the same ‘East Enders’ appeal. Long-stay Brits are now fully aware the entire region is being used for deliveries of illegal substances, and attempt to stay away from the beaches when the word goes round.

This latest haul of hash was discovered on Playa Arroyo Vaquero late last night, apparently as a result of a tip-off, with the Guardia Civil turning up equipped with guns and searching the beach in case the smugglers had decided to leave later rather than immediately. Jet skis and a large number of packages containing marijuana took until early morning to be cleared, but no villains were found.

One local British resident told reporters her brother and a friend had been in the area until around midnight, but were leaving when their car was stopped by armed police and they were questioned. He called his sister to let her know, causing her to worry there might be another boat coming in. She’s now scared at night as her home is on a street leading to the sands.

Other expat residents confirmed the smugglers always leave the beach via side alleys backing the development, with many residents now installing huge rocks on the road to prevent cars from using them. According to other residents, several similar drops have been made during lockdown, with one incident in early May resulting in arrests and the seizure of 400 kilos of cocaine.