Spain accidentally releases alleged Dutch cartel boss

Justice officials successful Spain person been near red-faced aft accidentally releasing a billionaire Dutch cause lord from situation successful a bureaucratic mix-up.

Karim Bouyakhrichan, allegedly a person of the Mocro Maffia, was arrested successful Marbella successful January aft a five-year money-laundering investigation.

But helium was accidentally released amid disorder implicit a Dutch extradition request, earlier vanishing this month.

Spanish authorities stay assured the alleged cartel main volition beryllium found.

Speaking to reporters connected Tuesday, Justice Minister Félix Bolaños conceded that the flight was "worrying news", but insisted that information forces "will manus this idiosyncratic implicit to justness arsenic soon arsenic possible".

The Mocro Maffia refers to respective of Europe's largest cocaine trafficking cartels, and is believed to person smuggled billions of euros worthy of the cause from South America into the EU implicit the past 15 years.

They are said to usage the immense ports successful Amsterdam and Rotterdam to determination cocaine astir the continent, portion directing money-laundering operations crossed Europe, the Middle East and Morocco.

Media successful the Netherlands person besides linked the cartels to threats made against the heir to the Dutch throne, Princess Amalia. It was revealed past week that kidnapping threats from the Netherlands' organised transgression satellite had forced the crown princess to unrecorded successful Spain for astatine slightest a year.

Mr Bouyakhrichan - besides known arsenic Taxi - was arrested successful January alongside 5 different men aft being accused of laundering wealth done the acquisition of 172 properties successful Spain worthy implicit €50m (£42.9m).

The 46-year-old was 1 of the astir wanted criminals successful Europe and had been hunted by Interpol for astatine slightest 5 years. His brother, Samir, is believed to person founded 1 limb of Mocro Maffia - a Dutch-Moroccan outfit based astir the Netherlands and Belgium - earlier being gunned down successful 2014.

Mr Bouyakhrichan is alleged to person taken implicit power of his brother's empire aft his death. His apprehension this twelvemonth is believed to person calmed a powerfulness conflict betwixt competing organised transgression factions, which had seen respective men killed.

Upon learning of Mr Bouyakhrichan's detention, Dutch authorities filed an extradition petition which was initially approved by a nationalist tribunal successful Madrid.

However, section officials successful Malaga - wherever the cartel main was being held - insisted that helium look charges successful Spain. Domestic media reported that the nationalist tribunal successful Madrid subsequently overruled the decision.

On 22 February, the Malaga tribunal accepted an entreaty lodged by Mr Bouyakhrichan's defence squad and ordered his merchandise pending extradition if helium paid a €50,000 (£43,000) bail bond.

Spanish outlet El Pais reported that judges accepted that determination was a anticipation that the cartel main could fly the country, but argued that "less burdensome" measures - including forcing him to surrender his passport and an work to study to tribunal each 15 days - would beryllium sufficient.

The insubstantial added that Mr Bouyakhrichan reported to courts regularly until 1 April, aft which helium disappeared.

Minister Bolaños refused to remark connected the bureaucratic mistake connected Tuesday erstwhile questioned by reporters.

Vincent Veenman, a spokesperson astatine the Dutch nationalist prosecutor's bureau successful The Hague, said it was "unknown" wherefore Mr Bouyakhrichan had been released from prison.

But helium insisted that practice with the Spanish justness strategy was "generally good", adding that "dozens of suspects are handed implicit each year".