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DRUGS

Spanish cops nab UK’s ‘most wanted’ man

Police on Saturday broke into a hidden anti-assault 'panic room' in a Malaga villa and arrested a 41-year-old British man who had been on the run for over a decade after receiving a 24-year prison sentence for drug dealing.

Spanish cops nab UK's 'most wanted' man
The fugitive eventually gave himself up after realizing that there was no way to escape. Photo: Spanish National Police

A statement from Spain's National Police reported that Mark Alan Lilley was seized on Saturday after a raid on an armoured room behind a camouflaged door.

He was holed up in there with a computer he used to monitor CCTV cameras.

Reports have Lilley living in the Alhaurín de la Torre area of Malaga under a false name.

He is also said to have changed his appearance through tattoos and weight-lifting.

The criminal, originally from Warrington in Cheshire, skipped bail in 2000 after being charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, amphetamines, cannabis and cannabis resin, and for possession of a firearm.

He was convicted in his absence and sentenced to 24 years in jail.

Since then he has regularly featured in 'Most Wanted' lists published by British tabloid newspapers such as The Sun and crime prevention organizations including Crimestoppers UK.

When Spanish police traced Lilley's suspected location they called on GOES, a Special Security Task Force,  who raided the property.

Two men and two women were found but there was no trace of the suspect.

A thorough search of the villa uncovered a wardrobe with a false door in the main bedroom.

This revealed a security door leading to a 'panic room', a safe place used to take refuge in the case of home invasions.

Video of the arrest of Mark Alan Lilley

Police were unable to open the door but Lilley eventually surrendered after realizing that he had no possible means of escape.

It is believed that guard dogs kept in the garden had alerted Lilley that the raid was underway.

This caused him to bolt the room from where he could monitor proceedings via CCTV cameras.

Lilley was sentenced in Bolton Crown Court in April 2000 in England for offences stretching back to 1997.

He was considered to be the head of a drug trafficking organization.

During the initial police investigation, British officers found drugs worth over £500,000 (€580,000, $740,000) in the property of his female partner, who was also convicted.

A further £250,000 of drugs, a pistol and £2000 in cash were later discovered.

Lilley's trial began in February 2000 but he disappeared after being released on bail.

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DRUGS

Germany should make cannabis available at pharmacies not ‘coffee shops’, says FDP boss

Germany's possible new government could well relax the country's strict cannabis laws. But FDP leader Christian Lindner says he doesn't want to go down the Netherlands route.

A demonstrator smokes a joint at the pro-cannabis Hanfparade in Berlin in August 2021.
A demonstrator smokes a joint at the pro-cannabis Hanfparade in Berlin in August 2021. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Annette Riedl

The Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) are set to engage in coalition talks in a bid to become the next German government.  And the future of cannabis will likely be one of the topics to be thrashed out.

In drug policy, the three parties are not too far apart in their positions. So it’s possible that the drug could be decriminalised.

However, nothing is set in stone and the parties still haven’t come to a common line on the question of where and to what extent cannabis could be accessed. 

The leader of the Liberal FDP, Christian Lindner, has now come out in favour of allowing cannabis products such as hashish to be sold in a controlled manner. 

Consumers should be allowed “to purchase a quantity for their own use, for example, in a pharmacy after health education,” Lindner told a live broadcast on German daily Bild on Sunday.

Lindner said he was sceptical about the sale in “coffee shops” according to the Dutch model. “I am in favour of controlled distribution, and therefore health education must be able to take place,” he said.

READ MORE: Patients in Germany still face hurdles accessing medical marijuana

People in the Netherlands can access cannabis products in coffee shops under the country’s tolerant drugs policy. However coffee shops have to follow certain strict conditions. For instance they are not allowed to sell large quantities to an individual. 

Lindner said his main aims were about “crime and health prevention” and not with “legalising a right to intoxication”.

It’s not clear if Lindner advocates for prescription-only cannabis for medical use, or an over-the-counter model. 

The FDP previously said that they they are in favour of the creation of licensed shops. Their manifesto highlights the health benefits, tax windfalls and reallocation of police resources that legalisation would create.

The Green party also want licensed shops, as well as a whole new approach to drug control starting with the controlled legalisation of marijuana. The Greens state that “strict youth and user protection” would be the centre point of their legislation and hope to “pull the rug from under the black market”.

The SPD also want a reform of Germany’s prohibition stance – but are more cautious than the smaller parties on the legalisation aspect. They would like to initially set up pilot projects. 

READ ALSO: Why Germany could be on the brink of legalising cannabis

Controversial topic

So far, the sale of cannabis is officially banned in Germany. Possession of cannabis is also currently illegal across the entire country. Those caught carrying the substance can face anything from a fine to five years in jail.

However, the justice system generally looks away if you are caught carry small quantities for personal use unless you have a previous conviction.

The definition of personal use differs from state to state, with Berlin having the most liberal rules and Bavaria the tightest.

It is estimated that around four million people regularly use cannabis in Germany.

Representatives of police unions in Germany have warned against legalisation. They argue that cannabis is an often trivialised drug that can lead to considerable health problems and social conflicts, especially among young people.

Oliver Malchow, from the GdP police union, said that “it doesn’t make any sense to legalise another dangerous drug on top of alcohol”.

The current Ministry of Health also continues to oppose the legalisation of cannabis, a spokesperson for Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) made clear. Cannabis is a dangerous substance and therefore legalisation is not advisable, the spokesman said. 

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