Speed King taken down in La Rioja by Guardia Civil and National Police

WORKING together, officers of the Guardia Civil and National Police have arrested an individual in La Rioja who was selling huge amounts of speed (amphetamine sulphate).

The 36-year-old Spaniard was arrested on three charges: drug trafficking, possession of illegal firearms and receipt of stolen items. After he was arrested officers found 81 kilos of speed, €212,000 in cash, 14 kilos of a cutting substance, seven kilos of marihuana buds, 750 grams of hashish and various ecstasy tablets.

In addition to the drugs officers removed one vehicle, two automatics pistols, two shotguns, two revolvers, 22 air rifles, 25 wristwatches, various items of jewellery, mobile phones, six mountain bikes, three laptop computers, video games, cameras, precision scales and measuring tools.

This is considered to be one of the most important finds of illicit synthetic drugs seized in Spain for some time and the street value of the speed has been estimated at €3.3 million.

The investigation, which remains open, was brought to a head when officers stopped the man’s vehicle on Christmas Eve as he was travelling with 57 kilos of speed on board which officers believed he would be distributing in advance of the New Year celebrations and after arresting him, they then searched his property where the rest of the haul was discovered.