Jessica Almada, who has spent the last eighteen months behind bars pending trial, has been cleared on charges of drug-smuggling

Argentinian model Jessica Almada, who has spent the last eighteen months behind bars pending trial, has been cleared on charges of drug-smuggling by a judge in Barcelona. Jessica, who turned 20 during her incarceration, was arrested with fellow model and compatriot, Belén Téllez, who has also been cleared, at Barcelona's El Prat airport after their manager and fellow passenger, Alejandro Jorge Panno, was found to be carrying 16kg of cocaine in four suitcases. Panno, who insisted during his trial that the girls knew nothing about the drugs, was convicted to serve 11 years behind bars and was fined two million euros. Jessica's lawyer revealed yesterday that the girls are planning to claim compensation for the time they spent in jail, but recognised that it is going to be difficult given that it is normal for foreigners awaiting trial to be remanded without bail given the high perceived risk that they would try and flee the country if granted bail.

Monzer al-Kassar "Prince of Marbella"

Al-Kassar, dubbed the "Prince of Marbella" because of his opulent lifestyle, faces life imprisonment if convicted


Monzer al-Kassar, alleged Syrian arms dealer and co-conspirator with the recently-extradited pair of Luis Felipe Moreno Godoy and Tareq Mousa al Ghazi, is one step closer to being extradited from Spain. Today, a Spanish court authorized al-Kassar’s extradition to the United States to face terror related charges.
As we reported a week ago, Godoy and al Ghazi were extradited from Romania to face charges of supplying missiles, automatic weapons and ammunition to the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Columbia, or FARC, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization. Al-Kassar, who allegedly utilized a criminal arms network he supposedly masterminded in the transaction, faces similar charges.
The decision of by the National Audience, which has jurisdiction over international crimes, is subject to appeal. If confirmed a final decision will fall on the Spanish government. .