One of the more bizarre stories this past week.
El Pais reports…
Sources believe the fundraising effort for Francisco Tejón, aka ‘El Castaña,’ may be a defense strategy given the gang leader is estimated to have amassed a €30-million fortune
It was a kind of “charity” fundraising effort, jokes a legal source from Campo de Gibraltar in the south of Spain. For three days, a bank branch in the Cádiz province saw an unexpected series of visits from friends, family and associates of Francisco Tejón, the head of the biggest hashish network in southern Spain. All of them were depositing money to help the powerful drug lord, better known by his alias “El Castaña,” raise €200,000 to post bail. Tejón, who is also known by his nickname Isco, handed himself over to police in October 2018 after his defiant appearance in a reggaeton music video despite being sought for arrest. Since then, he has been in pre-trial detention. But by Tuesday, Tejón’s supporters had raised enough money for bail and by the following day, the leader of the Castaña drug clan was once again back on the streets. He is awaiting trial on drug-trafficking charges but will not face court until the beginning of 2022.
No family members came. His son picked him up. It’s not a good idea for them to throw a party here,” said an officer who was present when Tejón left the Botafuegos prison in Algeciras. According to the officer, the drug lord left prison just after 8pm on Wednesday. He was wearing a cap to hide his face, and was accompanied by two children. The group avoided being photographed. Another officer expressed his frustration at the release. “It doesn’t matter [that he didn’t throw a party at the police station], they will throw one in La Atunara,” he said, referring to a neighborhood in La Línea de Concepción that protects Tejón and his powerful Castaña drug clan. “They would have already bought flares and fireworks. They will party that night.”