AN ex-footballer has been arrested for smuggling cocaine into Spain by means of Algeciras and Valencia after ten years on the run.
Jesus Emilio Diez de Mier, recognized in footballing circles as ‘Txutxi’, was captured throughout a routine police verify in El Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz province, on December 15.
The 48-year-old had been evading authorities since 2015 when Spain’s Nationwide Court docket sentenced him to 9 years in jail for his half in a prison organisation trafficking cocaine by means of main Spanish ports.
Police grew to become suspicious when Txutxi offered false documentation throughout a regular road verify.
He was taken to the police station the place his true identification was revealed, together with an excellent arrest warrant.
The previous midfielder, who performed for Athletic Bilbao within the 1995/96 season earlier than spells at Hercules, Lleida, Badajoz and Yeclano, was a part of a gang that smuggled 950kg of cocaine into Spain from Argentina between 2008 and 2009.
Court docket paperwork revealed that 600kg entered by means of Algeciras port, with the remaining 350 kilos coming by means of Valencia.
The medication had an estimated black market worth of €32 million.
The identical operation additionally noticed former Hercules participant Predrag Stankovic sentenced to 9 years in jail, whereas soccer agent Zoran Matijevic obtained a 12-year sentence for main the prison group.
Txutxi has now been transferred to jail to start serving his overdue sentence.
