Spain Breaks Global Money Laundering Ring

Written by Heidi Wardman

Spanish authorities have arrested twenty people suspected of having facilitated an international money laundering operation through the sale of drugs. The investigation was initially launched in May 2008, when Police became suspicious over several substantial transfers of money to Colombia. Police reports suggest that the group was responsible for transferring in excess of 3 million euros during 2007 and 2008, which was sent from Spain to bank accounts in China, Panama, Venezuela and the United States and were eventually collated at a fake dentistry foundation in Colombia. The Police statement went on to say that the suspected ringleader of the Colombian network was detained by US police in Miami, whilst the remaining suspects were detained by Spanish police in raids carried out across Spain. At the same time, the Police confiscated 5 vehicles; 32 mobile telephones; a quantity of cocaine; 6 fake passports and other documentation.

Spain Torn by Albino Plea
An albino teenager from Benin has sent a plea to the Spanish Government, begging them not to send him back to his home land for fear of his life. The 18-year old’s wooden boat was intercepted immediately on arrival to the island of Tenerife in Spain’s Canary’s Islands, which carried some 60 other illegal African migrants. The Spanish Government vowed that all of its inhabitants would be returned directly, but confirmed that it will look upon the request to stay made by the albino youth more sympathetically, following suggestions that he would be killed in a witchcraft ritual if he was sent back home as albinos are considered to be bad omens, or conversely help to bring good fortune to anyone who crosses their path.

The asylum request was facilitated by the Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid (CEAR) which is also campaigning for his release from the centre for illegal immigrants in Tenerife, where he has been held since his arrival in Spain.

The Director of CEAR, Juan Carlos Lorenzo, confirmed that, “In Africa, albinos are considered to be a bad omen or a factor of good luck. It is logical that he fears for his life because among different ethnic groups, his body may be used in a sacrifice ritual.”

New Finance Minister Calls for Support
Spain’s new Finance Minister, Elena Salgado, has sent out an appeal to banks nationwide, requesting that they offer some form of aid to businesses and families who are struggling through the economic crisis. Elena Salgado said that Banks “must contribute strongly, but also rapidly to help overcome the problems that families are having; the self-employed, small and medium-sized businesses”, suggesting that the provision of loans is the way forward.

Ms Salgado’s replacement of former EU Economic Commissioner, Pedro Solbes, as Finance Minister, in the cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, was no great surprise as suggestions had been made for some time that Mr Solbes would be standing aside. At 59-years old, Ms Salgado is the first woman to occupy the post, and has vowed that she will make “every effort” to get the economy “back on the path of growth”, adding that “Our first efforts will be focused on creating jobs”. Meanwhile, Mr Solbes, who has remained a key player in Zapatero’s cabinet since 2004, said that he had “mixed feelings” about leaving the Government but felt “reasonably satisfied” with what he had achieved during his time there.

Spain Rallies for 2016 Olympics
The Spanish Prime Minister has vowed that he will personally oversee the sports portfolio in a bid to push forward Madrid’s candidature for the 2016 Olympics. In a news conference Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, was heard to say that, “I can see that it is the most useful and most efficient way to support Spanish sport, where we have had success, and above all for the Spanish candidature for the Olympic Games”. Sport is currently the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Sport, Jaime Lissavetzky, who works under the Minister of Education and Sport. Mr Zapatero stressed that the Secretary would continue in his role, but would work directly alongside the Government in relation to the Olympics. Last November, he had also announced that Spain would soon be welcoming a Sports Minister at cabinet-level, but no such position has been confirmed to date.

Young Drink Drivers Plead Ignorance
A recent report has revealed shocking results in relation to legal blood/ alcohol levels. The drink driving survey was conducted by the ‘Royal Automobile Club of Cataluña’ (RACC), and unveiled a series of worrying misconceptions amongst young Spanish drivers. The survey questioned a random section of drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 years, and the majority responded by saying that they thought they could pass a breathalyser test after consuming up to four and a half glasses of beer. The legal limit in Spain is actually recorded at 0.5g of alcohol per litre of blood.

This equates to just one and a half glasses of beer, for a male driver, or one glass of beer, or less if drinking wine, in the case of a woman. Male drivers considered that they would be fined with as many as four glasses of wine inside them. What is even more worrying is that almost 30% of those questioned admitted to having driven while drunk at least once in the past three months, or had accompanied a drunk driver as a passenger.

Source: RTN