Priest arrested by police on Costa del Sol with packets of designer drugs in his possession
During a search of his holiday apartment, where he was staying with other young people, officers found a precision scale and a bag containing a narcotic substance
National Police officers on the Costa del Sol have arrested a 45-year-old priest in Torremolinos for his alleged involvement in a crime against public health. The provincial police headquarters has confirmed that the man was caught with a dozen or so packages of designer drugs.
The arrested man, from the Archdiocese of Toledo, was stopped in the early hours of Monday 22 September on the public road with a quantity of various narcotic substances that exceeded what could be understood as that intended for personal consumption.
Police discovered that the priest had rented a holiday apartment in the town with several young people, where, according to sources close to the case consulted by this newspaper, they had been using drugs. However, late at night, one of the tourists began causing a scene on the terrace of the complex, even threatening to jump to his death.
National Police officers arrived at the scene, calmed the man down and searched his companions. Among the priest's belongings, they found up to ten packets of psychotropic drugs that could be MDMA and mephedrone, although the substances are still awaiting analysis.
The priest also agreed to allow officers to search the apartment where they were staying, where they found traces of substance abuse, a precision scale, and a single-dose bag of drugs. The officers subsequently arrested him, and he has been brought before Torremolinos Investigating Court No. 5.
The Archdiocese of Toledo issued a statement confirming the priest's arrest and expressing "deep regret for the events that led to his arrest." It also condemned any criminal conduct the priest may have committed and expressed "full confidence in the justice system." Although it believes the detainee's responsibility for the events falls within his personal jurisdiction, it has expressed their willingness to cooperate with the investigation.
The diocese also stated that a case has been opened against the priest and that he has been provisionally suspended from the exercise of his ministry and office. "This Archdiocese asks forgiveness from the People of God for any moral damage that may be caused by the alleged crimes of a priest of the archdiocese," it concluded.
