The Provicinal High Court has rejected an appeal from a Colonel of the Guardia Civil, who had been sentenced to jail for drug running and corruption.

Colonel Francisco García Santaella, who was the Commanding Officer in the Granada, Guardia-Civil HQ, has ten days, starting on the 8th of this month, to voluntarily turn himself in at the Provincial jail to begin a 7-year, 3-month imprisonment term. Failure to do so would lead to an immediate search & arrest warrant being issued.

Besides the jail term, he also has to pay a fine of 6,120,000-euro fine and is barred from holding any public post for the seven years following release.

He was originally found guilt in January 2022 but was later absolved because of the statute of limitations. However, the Spanish High Court ordered the lower court to issue a new, condemnatory sentence.

Taking advantage of his position of commanding over the Anti-Narcotics Department, he tipped off drug runners about police patrols thus ensuring the safe landing of several drug shipments in exchange for 120,000 euros for his ‘work’ between 2005 and 2006.

However, a phone tap discovered what was going on. Futhermore, when two drug runners were arrested in 2014 and questioned by the police, they identified him as El Padre when shown photos.

(News: City & Metropolitan Area, Granada, Andalucia)

Keywords: Drug Running, Chief of Police, Colonel, Corruption, Guardia Civil, Sentenced to Prison