A potentially deadly gangland shooting has been thwarted on the Costa del Sol after police intercepted three armed men in Fuengirola.
The trio, described as a fully-prepared hit squad, were caught with loaded weapons and balaclavas.
At least one was wearing a bulletproof vest, while all were carrying balaclavas and gloves.
They were stopped this month by Policia Nacional officers carrying out a late-night patrol on the Paseo Maritimo Rey de España.
They were found to be carrying two pistols and a shotgun, all of them armed and ready to fire.
Meanwhile, a third gun with a full magazine was found hidden nearby, police said.
The authorities believe the suspects tried to ditch one of the weapons when they realised officers were closing in.
‘Everything pointed to an imminent attack,’ sources told local newspaper Diario Sur.
The three men – aged between 27 and 32 – are believed to be linked to a criminal clan based in Granada, with previous ties to drug trafficking.
Investigators say they had travelled to the Costa del Sol to confront a man living in Fuengirola over an alleged dispute or unpaid debt.
The case has now been handed to a Fuengirola court, while investigations continue to determine the exact target and full scope of the plan.
The arrests come amid increased police pressure on organised crime along the Costa del Sol, which remains a hotspot for gang activity linked to drug networks.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
