Police chief arrested: millions in drug money hidden in the wall
Madrid (Spain) - Police scandal in Spain. A high-ranking police officer is said to have been deeply involved in drug trafficking. 20 million euros in cash were found in the officer's house - hidden in the walls.
The head of the economic crime department of the Spanish National Police in Madrid has been arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking, money laundering and bribery, according to media reports.
His wife, who is also an officer of the "Policía Nacional", and 13 other people were also arrested during the operation on Wednesday, according to Spanish media reports.
During the search of the couple's house in the Madrid suburb of Alcalá de Henares, more than 20 million euros were discovered hidden in the walls, presumably from drug deals.
In addition, further cash amounting to around one million euros was seized in the police chief's office.
Police chief hides millions in walls
The investigation that led to the arrests was reportedly carried out by an internal affairs unit of the National Police as part of an operation led by the National Court of Justice against drug trafficking, money laundering and bribery.
The investigating judge ordered pre-trial detention for all 15 detainees.
The media suspect that the arrests could be linked to a recent operation carried out in the port of Algeciras in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia.
The investigators had seized a shipment of more than 13 tons of cocaine - the largest quantity of this drug ever confiscated in Spain at one time.