NINE people have been arrested as police smashed two drug gangs in Malaga – including a 24-hour dealing ring with its own ‘smoking room’.
The two criminal groups ran separate drug-selling points in the city centre, with one even allowing customers to smoke the drugs they bought in a private den.
The first gang operated in the Lagunillas neighbourhood, where residents reported feeling increasingly unsafe as drug users came and went from the premises.
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Officers arrested six suspects on October 15 after catching them in the act of completing a drug deal.
Seized in the bust, dubbed Operation Flautista, were 68 wraps of crack cocaine, marijuana, two large knives, an electric scooter, mobile phones and cash.
The gang operated like a well-oiled machine, police said, with different members responsible for attracting customers, selling drugs and collecting payments.
Others acted as lookouts and provided security nearby, helping the operation run around the clock.
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In a separate investigation, dubbed Operation Goku, officers dismantled another busy drug-selling point following complaints from residents about the constant stream of visitors to a property.
After weeks of surveillance, investigators identified where the suspects hid their drugs before making small-scale sales.
Three people were arrested after police raided the main suspect’s home earlier this month, with support from specialist police units and Malaga Policia Local.
Officers seized 620g of marijuana, 20g of cocaine, a pistol and 9mm short-calibre ammunition.
They also recovered several knives and other weapons, along with more than €3,000 in cash.
National Police said the nine suspects face charges including drug trafficking, membership of a criminal organisation and illegal possession of firearms.
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