Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
IRISH mobster John Gilligan, who was arrested by police last month after a pink cocaine lab was discovered in his Orihuela Costa home, is now back behind bars.
The 72-year old was arrested by the Policia Nacional and placed in custody by a court on 18 December.
The details of an operation conducted by the Policia Nacional in collaboration with the UK National Crime Agency only came out on Thursday.
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Gilligan has been detained again after being released in 2013 from prison, where he had served 17 years in Ireland for drug trafficking.
He was sentenced to additional time in prison for crimes committed, such as being in possession of a mobile phone and making threats towards prison officers.
In 2020, he and his associates were raided in Spain.
Police detained eight other people, including Gilligan. They are all members of a Macedonian crime family that is based in La Alberca.
Gilligan allegedly gave them orders to manufacture and distribute various types of drugs throughout the Murcia area.
Two properties were searched in La Alberca where a ‘significant’ amount of pink cocaine- also known as tusi- was seized.
According to authorities, the laboratory at Gilligan’s villa could have produced as much as 600 kilograms of tusi.
The items seized at different locations included 16 kg of tusi and two and a quarter kilos cocaine. Also, 540 litres were illegal drug precursors.
A 75-litre drum containing methylamine, a toxic and highly flammable ingredient of methamphetamine, was also seized.
Gilligan’s house was searched and a revolver hidden in the home was discovered. Several mobile phones were also removed.
The police have not ruled out any further arrests.
