GANG WARS ON THE COSTA
 

As im still looking at moving to spain this year 2010 With my girlfriend and our new born baby which is due in march. We have been doing a lot of research into the move ie internet+reading books. i come across a book over the xmas holiday which ive just finished reading, gang wars on the costa written by wensley clarkson who lives and works in spain and london It gives a chilling look how the coastal regions are under a gripping intense turf war amongst drug dealers /pimps/protection racket firms/burgulars it read some quite chilling scarey stuff if true! it also reads that the recession has also made things alot lot worse in spain , benalmadena on the costa del sol where i used to go on my hols has been turned into a virtual desert town gangs exchange gun fire on a daily basis younger kids that are growing up in the area have no direction in life and are seeing this and are wanting to be a part of these gangs, more alarming than any thing its says as the global melt down bites in 2010 it is expected that many of these gangs will push deeper and deeper into the areas that most law-abiding citizens presume to be safe for themselves and there families. Desperation will undoubtedly (and already is in some cases ) bringing more danger to innocent people as the gangs find it harder to make money from traditional criminal sources with drug prices collapsing and other more traditional underworld enterprises such as people -smuggling and prostitution also suffering thanks to the financial crisis. Wensley sayes there will be a increase across the country of burgularly +kidnapping in 2010. As im looking to move to spain this is quite a worry and a daunting thing even though the book was a really good read if this booked reads true i dont like to say this but i think the uk could be a safer place in 2010 whats your thoughts on this for you guys living in spain at the moment:unsure: .

Re: GANG WARS ON THE COSTA
 

Someone will be along soon to tell you it´s all made up, and it´s worse in UK! :)

Re: GANG WARS ON THE COSTA
 

erg, sorry to break the news to you, but.....

I guess this guy wanted to sell books

I've spent plenty of time going out in Benalmadena and Fuengirola and it's no worse than any UK city centre on a Sat night - its not perfect, but "gunfire on a daily basis"!? :rofl:

Re: GANG WARS ON THE COSTA
 

Get a grip, the guy writes fiction stories for his living.
I live in the alegedly roughest part of the costas, that book is an load of tosh.
The worst thing I can recall happening was when Ronnie Knight was living here and Roger Cook tried to interview him and got an ashtray thown at him. lol

Things happen in every country in the world, as the old saying goes "if you live by the sword then you will probably die by the sword."
A few years ago there were murders in Marbella of drug dealers, but that was once in a blue moon.
You will find most of the stories are Chinese Whispers. ;-))

Re: GANG WARS ON THE COSTA
 

LOL.....

Re: GANG WARS ON THE COSTA
 

I have lived in and around Torrevieja (Pop. 100,000) for 10 years and I have never seen a punch thrown.

But obviously there is crime here however - for those going about their normal daily law abiding lives there are no major threats and no intimidation.

Probably for those who want to take or sell drugs or get involved with illegal goings on then yes they will probably encounter problems.

We have ample Policia Local and Guardia and there high profile reinforces the feeling of freedom and security.

I guess somewhere within the depths of EU bureaucracy there are statistics published and I suggest you look at those as against sensationalism type writing.

Re: GANG WARS ON THE COSTA
 

Next time avoid the fiction section of your library ;)

Re: GANG WARS ON THE COSTA
 

Not suggesting it´s a daily occurrence, but you must have very selective hearing/reading if that´s the worse you´ve heard about. :confused: Google tiroteo+Benalmadena, you'll find at least a few shootings in the past 12 months. As I said, it's not common, but it happens, why pretend it doesn't.

Re: GANG WARS ON THE COSTA
 

I think some Brits here live in a false sense of security and can be unaware of the crime that exists including gangs.

Maybe the book has over emphasised the problem but it does exist. Remember that the Costa del sol is a tourist area and any crime will be hushed by the authorities to keep the illusion that it is so safe.:ohmy:

Of course, you have to keep your wits about you and have some common sense, just like you would in the UK.

I now live in Asturias and it is far more safer than down South.

Re: GANG WARS ON THE COSTA
 

I dont think they are chinese whispers since reading this book ive been on the internet site www.costadelcrime 2009 which gives you up to date news+ details on the crimes that are being commited on the costa del sol ie killings/ kidnappings/child abductions/drug turfwars/ and details that are on there are in this book so for you to say the book is a load of tosh is wrong:confused: i understand that crime happens in every country which we cant escape it , but the reason of me putting this thread on here is to see if its as bad as the book sayes and for the people who live in spain is the crime getting noticeabe worse ?

Re: GANG WARS ON THE COSTA
 

I have lived in Liverpool, North London, Hertfordshire, Costa Del Sol and Asturias.

My worst experience of crime and feeling unsafe is the Costa Del Sol.

I know of many expats who have been victims of crime there. In my urbanisation there were quite a few burgularies (with the owners in the home at the time and they had axes :eek:).

Re: GANG WARS ON THE COSTA
 

hi manamama thanks for your reply ! im quite concerned about my move to spain now and if its the right thing to do now im going to be based on the costa tropical which is hopefully going to not as bad as the costa del sol. i want me and my girlfriend and our baby to be safe the hole point of moving to spain is for a better quality of life and to get away from the crime thats affecting people in my area , but what i dont want to do is jump out of one fire in to another:thumbdown:

Re: GANG WARS ON THE COSTA
 

:confused: I hope it's not from my comments only !!

Although I wouldn't recommend the CDS to anyone... but that's just my opinion.

Re: GANG WARS ON THE COSTA
 

how far away from the costa del sol are you ? and whats the area like you live in ?:thumbsup:

Re: GANG WARS ON THE COSTA
 

Hi

Please believe me; If you are stupid enough to ask that question, I honestly believe you will not "make it" here and will have to go back sadder, poorer, and a bit wiser.

Honest thoughts !

Davexf