BRITISH LED DRUG GANG ARRESTED

For the last six months, the eight gang members have allegedly distributed more than 16,000 ecstasy tablets in night clubs and bars in Palma and Calvià.
Lowe was questioned on the gang's proposed plan to distribute 1,400 MDMA (ecstasy) tablets over the Easter holiday period in bars and discos in Plaza Gomila, Can Barbará, Magaluf and Arenal.
However, according to the police investigation, the gang could have been bringing over and distributing as many as 700 or 800 ecstasy tablets each week since October of last year from Holland. Police estimated that the gang controlled 70 per cent of the sales of ecstasy tablets in Palma and Calvià.
Graham L., together with Christine G. F., 22 and Paul H., 30, who were found carrying a total of 1,100 tablets, were sent to prison. Deborah C. McK., 34, from New Zealand and two Spaniards, Angel D. and Sergio D., both 20, were also sent to prison to await trial. The two 20-year-old Spanish members of the gang, nick-named "Los Ccrdoba" were in charge of supplying the "camellos" or street drug sellers. Two other Spaniards are also under arrest for their involvement with the drugs ring.
Reliable sources informed The READER on Wednesday that both Christine G. and Deborah McK., had been released on bail.

PALMA'S FACILITIES ATTRACT STRIKEN AIRCRAFT

Fortunately, the aircraft landed safely with no injury caused to passengers or crew. However three passengers, in a highly nervous state, jumped out of the rear door before the steps were put in place, one twisted an ankle, while the others escaped with only slight bruises. The aircraft was not seriously damaged.
The drama began shortly after the aircraft left Barcelona's El Prat airport en route to Bilbao when the captain discovered that the front wheel under-carriage had jammed. He was ordered to circle Barcelona airport to use up the plane's fuel and was then re-routed to Son San Juan airport which has a second emergency runway.
Flight UX-8502 finally landed at 12.40pm, four hours after take-off, using its main under-carriage and the nose of the aircraft. However, the emergency landing was not the first incident of the morning for the passengers. The flight took-off from Barcelona airport one hour and 20 minutes late due to a mechanical fault and passengers had to disembark until the fault was repaired.
The General Director of Air Europa Express, Marion Hidalgo, commented that the mechanical fault detected earlier was not connected with the front under-carriage which later caused the emergency landing. Hidaglo said that the pilot detected the fault with the under-carriage as soon as the plane took off and asked for permission to return to the airport. However, this was impossible as the wheel had jammed and an emergency landing with a full tank could have been fatal. "The pilot was instructed to use up the plane's fuel supply and then ordered to land in Palma. This was thought to be safer as Son San Juan airport has a second runway, the weather was more favourable and the emergency services are excellent (Palma has double the number of emergency fire crew than Barcelona). Air Europa also has its maintenance service in Palma.
Not only Hidalgo, but also the passengers praised the captain and crew
of the aircraft for their "professionalism" during the crisis.
"Four hours flying in circles. Imagine how nervous we all were", commented one of the passengers later as they were relaxing over lunch in the airport's restaurant. "The plane was going up and down like a horse on a roundabout to try and release the jammed undercarriage. Our hearts and stomachs were in our mouths most of the time", commented another. Most of the passengers flew out of Palma airport early the same afternoon on the earliest flight to Bilbao, while others preferred to return home to Barcelona.

UNIQUE AUCTION

The Archduke Luis Salvador von Habsburg und Lothringen built this magnificent mansion during his stay in Mallorca 1870-1914 situated between Deià and Valldemossa next to the property owned by Michael Douglas.
Set in an elevated position right next to the sea, with outstanding views of the coastline and mountains from the numerous terraces surrounding the property.
The mansion has 1,400sqm of living-space: a 100sqm living-room, 50sqm library, 7 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and dressing rooms, a bodega, separate 3 room caretakers annexe, separate 110sqm guest house, big swimming pool area, numerous terraces both covered and uncovered, floodlit tennis-court directly over the cliffs, fantastic garden with two separate entrances and a typical Mallorquin courtyard with a central fountain and a colonnaded arabesque walkway.
A couple of million pounds could buy you this unique piece of Mallorcan culture in a paradise setting. (Auctioneers phone number is 971.71.11.65).
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Photos: THE READER; El dia del mundo

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