High-Speed Chase Ends in Capture of Fugitive Drug Baron
In a dramatic turn of events, a notorious drug baron, Antonio Sevillano, who had been on the run since March, was apprehended following a high-speed car chase. The pursuit ended when officers were forced to shoot out his tyres.
Unexpected Pursuit of ‘Hashish King’
Local police were initially unaware that they were in pursuit of the infamous ‘Hashish King’, Antonio Sevillano. The chase began when they attempted to stop a driver who was talking on his phone near Marbella. The man, later identified as Sevillano, immediately sped off in his Mercedes.
Reckless Escape Attempt Through Atalaya Golf
Sevillano led the police on a high-speed chase through Atalaya Golf near San Pedro, the same area where he was first arrested in 2011. He continued to speed through populated areas, running red lights and ignoring pedestrian crossings as he headed towards Estepona.
Aborted Attempt to Escape on Foot
Believing he had lost his pursuers, Sevillano attempted to escape on foot. However, the police arrived on the scene before he could get far. Despite being surrounded by officers with their guns drawn, Sevillano managed to get back into his car and flee once again. The chase finally ended when police shot out the tyre on his right rear wheel.
Final Capture and Identification
After realizing he could not continue driving, Sevillano abandoned his car on the hard shoulder of the A-7 and attempted to flee on foot. He was eventually captured, and it was only then that the Marbella police realized who they had apprehended. Sevillano was found to be in possession of four mobile phones and two allegedly fake driving licenses.
Sevillano’s Criminal Background
Sevillano had been on the run since the end of March, when a warrant for his arrest was issued by Huelva’s provincial court. He was serving a sentence of 10 and a half years in prison and had been fined a total of 70 million euros for a 3.6 tonne haul of hashish in August 2011.
Life of Semi-Freedom in Galicia
Sevillano had been living a life of semi-freedom in a social integration centre (CIS) in Galicia, where he worked as a chauffeur for his lawyer during the day. He had been granted a leave of absence in March to attend a trial in Seville but failed to return, prompting the search and arrest warrant.
Sevillano’s Influence in the Drug Trade
Police consider Sevillano to be one of the ‘kings of hashish’ and believe that he is linked with the majority of the hashish shipments exported to Europe in the 2000s. He allegedly had contacts with producers in Morocco and controlled markets in the UK, France, and the Netherlands.
