The Galician Parallax Read Online Free PDF Page B

international boundaries. The navy could issue work and other commercial permits but could not enforce the law. A diving contract with the British firm St Edmond Explorers was one of them although it tended to fall between the cracks. However, there was a clear definition of responsibilities when it came to the war on drugs. The Spanish civil guards were in full command.
    Twenty-four-years old Lieutenant Sergio Quiroga was one of those guards.
    After graduation as a young officer his mentors had recommended he be seconded to an intelligence unit due to his sharp brain that complemented a unique skill of computer knowledge. He was eventually based at their headquarters in the city of Santiago de Compostela, heart of the regional government of Galicia, and assigned administrative work investigating and recording all drug-dealing activities in the region.
    Following the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939, Galicia had emerged as a smuggler’s haven. There were all types of prohibited contraband products such as tobacco and coffee, not forgetting the “extra” food supplies that bypassed the ration system enforced in Spain at the time. The River Miño divides Spain from Portugal in the north-western part of the Iberian Peninsula and all along its banks dozens of smugglers operated on either side of the river’s border with hardly any hindrance from the authorities who were too busy trying to control the citizens of the newborn dictatorship. After the death of Generalissimo Franco, a new constitution was drawn up and approved by a transition government lead by President Adolfo Suárez. By 1982 elections were held, heralding in a new era of freedom and liberty for all Spaniards. However, the illicit contraband continued. Hashish traders took over from the cigarette mob, and cocaine and heroine from the coffee bandits. The stakes were now at a higher level as Spain graduated into the European network of drug users, peddlers and pushers. Galicia became the gateway to the rest of the continent particularly for the cocaine barons of Colombia.
    Lieutenant Quiroga became an expert on the criminal set-up on both sides of the Atlantic.
    For the past three years he had built his own comprehensive database including a sophisticated cross-referencing network of all criminal activities involving drugs dating back to the early 80s that had any connection with Galicia. Apart from the names and details of the known gangs, his system recorded all uncovered transport routes, map locations, types of craft, concealment methods, dates and above all a good communications linking system with other national, international and European law enforcement drug administrations. Sergio could pull the file on any drug baron caught and convicted within the Spanish autonomy, trace and criss-cross the criminal’s roots from the actual cocaine plantation involved to the confiscated batch as well as the date of his son’s graduation.
    Sergio, however, was bored. Computer games had little live action to offer and he dreamt for an opportunity to chase the criminals first hand. His superiors had considered him too valuable to be wasted on patrols or other “hands on” activities chasing bandits. He was still a bachelor and lived with his widowed mother. He was not into outdoor activities other than his pride and passion that was his 500cc Honda motorbike. He was a dedicated law enforcement agent and his main interest was always his work. Nevertheless, he kept on trying for more action within the force.
    ‘Has my request for a transfer come through, Sonia?’ Sonia said nothing. ‘Has anybody seen any papers from HQ about me?’ he shouted across the office.
    ‘You only sent it a couple of months ago! You know how long these things take,’ said Sonia who continued with her PC. ‘You’ve got a hope!’ she mumbled to herself.
    At that moment, Colonel Pedro Lobeira walked out of his office, saw that Sergio was standing opposite his secretary and quickly