Start of Palma's biggest drug cartel trial postponed

PALMA
A RING of steel was thrown up around the Palma High Court yesterday for the start of the opening of the eagerly awaited Son Banya trial involving numerous members of the Paca Gang, Majorca's biggest drugs cartel, and National Police inspector Jose Gomez Navarro who was head of the armed robbery squad.

However, no sooner had scores of National Police and the media taken up positions, than the start of the hearing was postponed because two of the 28 accused failed to turn up.

Search and arrests warrants have been issued for the two men who, along with the other 26 suspects, face a long list of charges including money laundering, and kidnapping.