Spanish holiday hotspot loved by Brits becomes 'epicentre of global organised crime'

Many Brits jet off to Spain for a sun-soaked holiday, filled with luxury, fanciness and good vibes. But in one of the country's most popular destinations, there is darker underbelly of organised crime.

The Costa del Sol is one of the most popular Spanish holiday resorts, with millions of passengers flocking to the south of Spain every year. Major cities such as Malaga and Marbella hugging the coastline offer hundreds of flights and an easy gateway to the beautiful beaches.

To the normal person, the Costa del Sol is a sure-fire destination for anyone looking to let their hair down. But scratch beneath the surface and something a lot more dodgy comes out of the woodwork as, under the veneer of luxury and lavishness, a violent wave of organised crime is being carried out.

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According to the i, a series of murders and killings have been engulfing the area as criminal gangs are targeting the rich to steal millions, and kill off their competition in the process. As a result, the Costa del Sol is now returning to its old nickname that it earned in the 1980s, the "Costa del Crime".

Just last week, a series of major deaths occurred in the Spanish resort, all while somehow avoiding a major drama among tourists. In one incident, a group of masked thugs threw a dying man overboard in the town of Puerto Banús, just metres away from where tourists were living their dream Spanish holidays.

Twenty-fours hours earlier, a second body had been found thrown by the side of a road high above the mountains of Marbella. Police are now investigating the death and are treating it as murder relating to the drug trade, in another sign of increased criminal activity this year.

But while British criminals may not be as active along the coast anymore, this has not stopped other crime syndicates coming out and operating in the area. Back in October, high profile Swedish rapper Hamza Karimi was gunned down in broad daylight aged just 25 in one of the most affluent areas of the region.

Spain's authorities are aware of the rise in criminal incidents on the Costa del Sol, after figures found that within just one month seven different criminal organisations and 9 tons of narcotics were seized. Local media outlet Cope is now branding the holiday hotspot as the "epicentre of global organised crime".

But why is this happening at such a popular tourist destination? Location could be a key factor, as just a stones-throw away from the coast lies Morocco, which provides an easy gateway for Europe to be flooded with the likes of marijuana.

On top of this, the complex political situation surrounding nearby Gibraltar is also causing havoc for the criminals, due to the territory's tax haven status. This means that criminals can manipulate the system to their benefit and push towards an illegal business, all while under the authorities' noses.

Despite this, young people are still being dragged into the criminal gang system, with kids as young as 16 and 17 arriving into Spain in order to act as hitmen. The Guardia Civil, Spain's main police force, has already helped to stop at least two separate murders but many teens are reportedly flocking to the area from Sweden to murder enemies for as little as €20,000 (£17,600) a hit.

El País, the biggest newspaper in Spain, has also suggested that criminal syndicated have also been involved in bombing and shootings that have rocked the area in recent years. As a result, bullets are now flying due to unpaid debts, ego trips and a need to become the kingpin of the drug trade, all while fighting off the competition.

"On top of that, they’ve lost any inhibition: they now kill in broad daylight, regardless of whether they’re seen," warns Carlos Tejada Bañales, Marbella's anti-drug prosecutor as Spain tries to crack down on the illegal dealings on its doorstep. "At this point, nothing surprises us."