Spanish authorities arrest man convicted of murder in Portugal during drug bust

Spanish authorities announced Monday the arrest of a man convicted of two murders in Portugal during the seizure of two kilograms of heroin near Madrid.

The Guardia Civil arrested two men while they were transporting two kilograms of heroin in the town of Pinto on the outskirts of Madrid, one of whom was serving a prison sentence for two murders in Portugal, Spanish news agency Efe reported.

The suspect also has experience in drug trafficking and counterfeiting government documents and banknotes.

According to the Madrid Civil Guard command, the events took place last week when agents were carrying out a public safety operation on the M-408 road, stopping a car with Portuguese license plates and two passengers.

When questioned by Civil Guard agents, the two passengers gave incoherent answers and authorities decided to search the car, finding 2,275 euros in cash and four packages wrapped in clear plastic containing a brown substance with a vinegar smell, which they confirmed belonged to the heroin.

However, during the investigation, one of the car’s passengers, a man wanted for two murders, attempted to escape along the side of the road but was caught by law enforcement officers. The suspect fiercely resisted his arrest and even took a gun from one of the officers.

The suspect’s documents, a Portuguese identity card and passport, were found to be false, and Spanish authorities confirmed that the suspect had an international arrest warrant issued by Portugal because he had fled after being convicted of two murders.

In total, he used up to six identities to evade justice and was also involved in drug trafficking, document and currency forgery, and was banned from entering the Schengen area by French authorities.

The two passengers in the car, who are in pre-trial detention, are suspected, according to Spanish authorities, of drug trafficking, document forgery, disobedience and serious resistance.