Aifos Arquitectura y Promociones Inmobiliarias SA has gone into administration leaving 4,000 unfinished homes.

Aifos was one of the first Spanish developers to open an office in the North West of England although the premises in John Dalton Street, Manchester closed around two years ago. The company also had offices in Trafalgar Square, London.British home buyers who fear they may lose out due to the insolvency of one of Spain’s best known developers have been given until the end of September to register their claim with the Spanish authorities, says law firm DWF. Aifos Arquitectura y Promociones Inmobiliarias SA has gone into administration leaving 4,000 unfinished homes.Aifos, which promoted itself as a ‘young and dynamic’ developer, was known for its ambitious schemes, luxury services and aggressive marketing campaigns. It was behind many projects in Andalucía and owned hotels such as the Guadalpín Marbella and the Hotel Byblos in Mjias, which is now in the process of being purchased by Sir Alan Sugar.The company reflected the glamorous side of Marbella’s construction industry but it also became synonymous with the darker side too when several of its directors were implicated by an anti-corruption campaign, Operation Malaya, the results of which shocked the country.Antonio Guillen, a Spanish lawyer with DWF in Manchester who is advising British purchasers on the insolvency of several Spanish developers, says it is estimated that Aifos has debts of over 1,000 million Euros and more than 2,000 creditors. The company filed for voluntary administration which has now been accepted, and administrators are being appointed to supervise its affairs.He says: “Anyone who has purchased a property off-plan from Aifos or owns a property that has not been fully finished needs to inform the administrators and the court before 30 September to ensure they are included in the final list of creditors. They will need to supply any documents that can help to prove the payments made, such as purchase contracts, payment orders and bank statements.“They should also check whether they have been supplied with a bank guarantee. A guarantee is compulsory under Spanish law, although not all developers comply, and will ensure that if the property is not finished, a guarantor, usually a bank, will refund the money they have paid plus interest. It could mean the difference between them losing all their money and getting a refund. “Ideally purchasers should contact a lawyer versed in Spanish insolvency law who can ensure they have all the right paperwork and are properly represented in the administration procedure, as well as contemplating alternative solutions such as enforcing the bank guarantee where this has been provided.”

Arrested six suspected drugs traffickers and dismantled two cocaine ‘cutting’ labs

National Police organised crime unit UDYCO have arrested six suspected drugs traffickers and dismantled two cocaine ‘cutting’ labs . More than 21 kilograms of cutting substance and 2.5 kilograms of cocaine have been seized by officers.The investigation was launched six months ago when police received information about a gang that was trafficking drugs in Malaga Province. Initials enquiries revealed that the gang had installed and was using two laboratories in two homes which they use to cut cocaine they collected from Madrid on a weekly basis. They would then sell the drugs across the Costa del Sol.Despite extreme counter-surveillance measures taken the traffickers, the police were able to follow the person in charge of bringing the drugs from Madrid. He took a bus to the capital and returned in a car which officers managed to follow to the Malaga fairground where he was intercepted. In the trunk of the car, police found two sacks containing 18 kilograms of a white substance and three one litre containers filled with cocaine.In a coordinated swoop, police were able to arrest another four members of the gang as they arrived at a Mijas home and raid three other properties. A sixth person was arrested trying to escape from a Benalmadena home, with 3,200 euros in cash hidden in his clothes.IN addition to the drugs and arrests, officers confiscated two hand guns fitted with silencers, 14,245 euros in cash, two cars, a motorbike, a laptop and ten mobile phones

British arrests involved in the drugs traffic and stolen vehicle trade in the Costa del Sol.

Guardia Civil’s Organised Crime Unit in Malaga have arrested 21 people allegedly involved in the drugs traffic and stolen vehicle trade in Marbella. Among their alleged activities was the smuggling of hash into Spain hidden in prams under sleeping babies as they passed customs.During the operation 13 others have also been charged. They 21 arrested are of Chilean (1), Moroccan (5), Spanish (8), French (5) and British (2) nationalities. More than 1.5 tons of hash, 11 vehicles, 56,500 euros in cash and a number of electrical items such as mobile phones and laptops were also seized.The investigation was launched in February 2008 following intelligence received by the Spanish authorities that suggested the existence of a hash trafficking network working out of the Costa del Sol.The network was made up of three separate cells that were structured and organised to be able to work independently of each other, something that made the investigators task more taxing.Once the drugs were smuggled into Spain they were hidden in secret compartments build in transport vehicles and smuggled into France.One of the cells smuggled cocaine hidden in chocolate bars that were brought into Spain via the postal service.Another one of the cells specialised in the buying and selling of stolen cars. These were modified and transported to Ceuta. From there they were driven to Morocco.In some cases the stolen vehicles were complete disassembled to appear to be second hand parts or scrap metal.

Ernest Malyshev Russian owner of the troubled Los Monteros Hotel in Marbella

Russian owner of the troubled Los Monteros Hotel in Marbella has presented a new viability plan, Europa Press reveals, which unions say gives way on some of the conditions included in the first plan presented last month. That plan was rejected by the 180 staff at the hotel as non-viable and insufficient.The latest plan recently presented by the owner’s legal representative proposes bringing forward the deadline for staff to be paid their outstanding wages. Originally set at 12 months, it’s now been brought down to the end of this year. Lola Villalba, from the CCOO union in Málaga, said Los Monteros workers would be prepared to accept the original 180,000 € offered by Ernest Malyshev for a first payment to cover back pay, but would need firm guarantees that the remainder of the money will be paid.She added that both sides want to negotiate a temporary lay-off, which would allow the staff to apply for unemployment benefit.The next step now will be when the owner’s representative responds to the union’s proposed modifications presented for the second viability plan.Los Monteros has been closed since early June and now has no running water or electricity.

La Cabane owes between 5 and 6 million € in unpaid taxes and Social Security payments

Lola Villalba from the CCOO union told Europa Press this weekend that La Cabane owes between 5 and 6 million € in unpaid taxes and Social Security payments, out of the estimated 70 million € owed by the hotel as a whole to both bodies and to the Banco de Santander.The union which is acting on behalf of the 180 workers at the luxury Los Monteros Hotel in Marbella, where staff are owed more than seven months in back wages, say they have managed to obtain a preventive embargo on the hotel’s beach club, La Cabane.CCOO’s Málaga representative for the hostelry sector said the union decided to make the move after interest shown in the beach club by a number of buyers, with concerns that if La Cabane were to be sold off the hotel’s sale value would drop considerably

Investment club WinCapita (former WinClub) investigation may hit expats living on the Costas

initial stage of the pre-trial investigation concerning the investment club WinCapita (former WinClub), the police focus on the money transactions and members of the club as well as the real nature of the activity. On the one hand, the police suspect that the club organised a money collection in the form of a pyramid scheme, which is illegal in Finland. For this reason, one of the suspected offences is a money collection offence. On the other hand, the police aim to establish whether some of the persons involved in the activity committed frauds against those who invested money in the club. Thus far, around twenty persons have reported the matter to the police. According to currently available information, close to 10,000 Finnish citizens participated in the club’s activities. The operating principle of the club was similar to network marketing in general. The club was created and run by a small group of persons, under whom there were “promoters” at different levels, who recruited investors to the club. The investors were often recruited among the promoter’s friends and acquaintances. Based on the available information, the persons running the club are mainly Finnish. The police have taken measures to catch the suspects. The pre-trial investigation has established so far that a company registered in Panama is behind the activities of WinCapita/WinClub. The club’s money transactions stopped on 7 March 2008, when the club shut down their website meant for investors.Interviews and questionings of several club members have revealed that the club has not paid the promised “profits” to the investors since the website was shut down. There are many rumours among the club members about why the club stopped its operation. Therefore, the police would like to bring the facts to the notice of the members. One rumour has it that the money transactions of the club were stopped because the police started to investigate the case. This rumour is not true. The police did not take any investigative measures concerning WinCapita before 25 March 2008, when the pre-trial investigation was launched. The other rumour is that the club management themselves requested the police to investigate the case because the club had been used for money laundering. The National Bureau of Investigation is not aware of any such request.

Marbella launch of Katie Price's new equestrian clothing range

Katie Price's advisers have told her to stop drinking when she flies to Spain tomorrow to launch her new equestrian clothing range.The British glamour model has been warned to keep a low profile and avoid binging on alcohol when she goes to Marbella to launch her new equestrian clothing range.A source said: "Her people want nothing to detract from the range - and if she's not drinking, then they're on much safer ground."When it comes to her business Katie is a true professional, so she wouldn't be partying hard anyway. But in any case, she's very aware that image is very important - especially in the business world."

Cilla Black and Sir Cliff Richard have been seen on holiday together in Marbella.

Cilla Black and Sir Cliff Richard have been seen on holiday together in Marbella.
The 66-year-old Blind Date presenter and the 68-year-old Summer Holiday singer were seen dining at Polo House, a club owned by James Hewitt, The Daily Telegraph reports. A source said: "Cilla and Cliff looked like a couple on a Saga holiday, Cilla has a place here and Cliff was staying with her."

Marbella based expat brothers behind France’s biggest ever drug haul

TWO Scottish brothers who are now based in Marbella on the Costa del Sol are thought to be behind France’s biggest ever drug haul seized by French police, the sundaymail.com reports.On May 27 a lorry carrying 684 kilograms of pure cocaine worth an estimated 37 million euros was intercepted hidden amongst boxes of cash registers and coffee in Montpellier by customs officers.The lorry was headed for Scotland from Spain.The truck driver and passenger, both Scots, were remanded in custody for questioning. They are both believed to be from Clydebank and in their 50s.The two brothers, known as ‘The Brothers’, believed to be behind the haul are in their 30s and were previously property developers but in the mid 90s got involved in the cocaine trade working for a man called Stephen Docherty, reports the sundaymail.com

BBC reports that punters are having to pay twice the normal car hire rates on the Costas just to get their hands on anything whatsoever

BBC reports that punters are having to pay twice the normal car hire rates on the Costas just to get their hands on anything whatsoever. Others are moaning about bookings being cancelled at the last minute, or having to wait around for ages while the car firm drags a clapped-out old Seat Ibiza from the deepest recesses of its car park. The problems are largely a reflection of those facing the global auto industry – car makers have been scaling down production as fast as they can manage it, and fleet buyers are struggling (like many businesses) to access suitable finance from the banks. So the end result will probably be that your two weeks in the Costa del Sol just got a little pricier. Unless you decide to get the train instead. Still, we suppose the positive angle on this news is that at least British consumer spending is proving more resilient than expected, which possibly suggests that the economic outlook is not quite as dire as some would have us believe. There was further grist to this particular mill today from the Council of Mortgage Lenders, who reported that the number of house repossessions actually fell 10% in the second quarter relative to the previous three months – possibly due to the fall in interest rates making mortgage payments more affordable.However, we suspect both of these green shoots will prove to be illusory. It seems quite likely that house repossessions will start climbing again if unemployment is going to head north of 3m. And the fact that Brits are desperate for a fortnight in the sun in August isn’t really proof of anything, apart from how pathetic our summer weather is...

Costa del Sol wild modernist luxury

wild modernist luxury, the Bolt Property Group builds villas costing from £3.5million within the gated estate of La Zagaleta in Marbella. Extravagance is a theme.
The company's director Hadleigh Bolt, 29, has designed a £27million ten-bedroom mansion which includes a ten-vehicle 'car museum' and a black marble indoor pool.
'Contemporary is the norm now,' says Bolt, whose designs have to comply with La Zagaleta's stringent bylaws, which include no flat roofs, unnatural colours, visible aerials or tennis courts. There are similar restrictions on the Monte Mayor Golf & Country Club, near Marbella, where Ken and Jackie Brownlee, from Berks, are having an open-plan four-bedroom holiday home designed by Contemporary Villas.
It will include vaulted reception areas, outside 'rooms' including a courtyard set around an infinity pool, and a complete intelligent sound/ light system. 'We saw dozens of more traditional villas for sale which were too rustic for our taste,' says Mr Brownlee. We wanted to design something different.' Modern design is more accepted at La Quinta in Marbella, where one boat-loving owner has designed his home like a ship, now on sale for £1.67million through Contemporary Villas.
'The steep terrain suited digging out more rooms below ground level,' says the Dutch vendor of the 500sqm, two bedroom glass, steel and concrete villa with glass-bottomed pool. On the Sotogrande estate, near Gibraltar, one German couple have created a red Casa Mexicana - complete with a glass-case travertine marble courtyard - on sale through Contemporary Villas for £3million. But Robert Green, director of developments for Cluttons Resorts, reminds buyers or self-builders that 'expressing too avant garde a taste can make the property difficult to sell'.
A prime example is the eccentric Finca de la Belette in Marbella, a nine-bedroom house that mixes Moorish design and futuristic features and includes huge iron gates from an old French castle and Italian renaissance columns. 'It took a long time to sell. No one could quite imagine living in it,' says Green. But no doubt its eventual buyers are relishing their surroundings. And can rest Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/property/article-1206362/Spain-goes-casa-crazy-Forget-fusty-old-fincas-costas-airy-light.html#ixzz0OAjpFKWO

British expatriates taking more seats on local councils

British expatriates are extending their influence in Spain and taking more seats on local councils, new figures reveal.According to data produced by the Spanish government there are 85 expatriates holding office in the country and 37 of these are from Britain.As well as warmer weather, cheaper property and a different lifestyle, Brits moving to Spain could also benefit from having a positive representation in the country's political system.British expatriates have even started a political party the Centro Democratico Liberal (CDL), which hopes to fight corruption and give voters an alternative to the established parties, the Telegraph reported.Recently, it was noted the perception of British expatriates has greatly improved. According to travel company Expedia, Europeans have moderated their stereotypical views of British people.

Mark Mills, 40, and Joseph Bowness, 37, were arrested by Spanish police after a boat was found packed with £10m of cocaine.

Mark Mills, 40, and Joseph Bowness, 37,arrested by Spanish police after a boat was found packed with £10m of cocaine.The 250kg haul was found hidden on a 9m yacht, the Dolphin Dance, which had set sail from the Dutch Antilles, a collection of five islands in the Caribbean.The Spanish authorities intercepted the vessel 500 miles off the coast and escorted it into the port of Vigo, in the north west tip of the country.Mark Mills, 40, and Joseph Bowness, 37, both from Liverpool, were later
arrested.The yacht had left San Martin in the Caribbean and it is thought it had stopped at Antioquia, Colombia, where the drugs were loaded.Within hours of the two men being brought back to dry land, officers from the Spanish Agencia Tributaria launched a series of raids on the Costa del Sol.Local reports said 10 homes, two promenade restaurants and a second-hand car dealership were among the addresses raided in Marbella and Fuengirola.
Eight arrests were made in total following the seizure and the raids.
Mills and Bowness are being held alongside men from Spain, Colombia, the
Netherlands and Italy.
It is believed the two Liverpool men are both known to police and refused
consular assistance from the British Embassy in Spain, prefering to instruct
their own legal teams instead.
Reports from the Costa del Sol said 18 top-of-the-range cars were impounded in
the raids, along with 300,000 Euros in cash, a jet ski, a semi-automatic pistol,
a revolver, 60 mobile phones, 20 computers and diverse documents.
Police are also thought to have found heroin, cannabis and cocaine.
The operation, codenamed Candelight, is believed to be a joint operation between
Spanish Customs and the UK’s Serious Organised Crime Agency.
It was launched after police discovered a new gang smuggling drugs from South
America to the UK.
The bosses of the operation are thought to have been based on the Costa del Sol,
with local businesses being used to launder the profits.
The cocaine-filled boat was caught a month after smugglers brought cannabis onto
Marbella’s beaches in broad daylight.
The drugs were jet-skied onto the beach from a boat waiting off-shore before
couriers hiding out in nearby scrubland ran to help unload and transfer the
drugs off the sand.
Officers seized two-and-a-half tonnes of cannabis and arrested 10 of the drug
runners, with searches of addresses in Benalmádena, Fuengirola and Mijas.
10,000 Euros in cash were also seized.

Nazi tattoos, facial plastic surgery and went by the nickname Jimmy as he hid out at the Fuengirola resort on Spain's Costa del Sol.

A.I.K, the 48-year-old chief executive of GP Trade, which sold thousands of tons of corn for storage without the knowledge of its owners, has been captured in Spain.
The damage incurred by the owners totalled Ft 4 billion, Gyõr county police spokeswoman Tünde Kocsis told MTI on Tuesday. An extradition procedure is underway after an 18-month police investigation. A.I.K. had facial plastic surgery and went by the nickname Jimmy as he hid out at the Fuengirola resort on Spain's Costa del Sol. Foreign residents were alerted by his conspicuous appearance and Nazi tattoos, police said.

Forest fire in Mijas

Forest fire in Mijas on Tuesday forced four families from their homes in a blaze which destroyed 4.5 hectares of scrubland in the area of El Hornillo, close to the AP-7 motorway.The alarm came shortly after 10.30 am, and fire fighters at the scene had managed to bring the flames under control some three and a half hours later, when the families evacuated were allowed back home. There were no reports of any injuries or any properties being affected by the fire.

260 kilos of hashish packed in nine bales thrown overboard

Rough weather and the coastguard have put an end to the plans of drug traffickers off the coast of Motril.It happened in the early hours of Friday when a yacht was spotted eight miles off the coast. The two men on board started to throw 260 kilos of hashish packed in nine bales overboard after being surprised by the Guardia Civil, but the yacht overturned as they were doing so. The men, a Moroccan and Spaniard, were arrested and then taken to the Guardia Civil barracks at Salobreña, and they are expected to appear before the judge in Motril shortly on charges against public health.