A six-man ‘execution team’ allegedly sent to Spain to avenge the murder of Paul Massey were found with a huge weapons arsenal in a joint raid by national police.
Three men and a woman from Salford were arrested in dawn raids on two homes in the Marbella area of Spain’s Costa Del Sol on Tuesday 16 February.
Raiding two properties officers found a huge weapons haul including a 9mm pistol with the serial number shorn off, several large hunting knives and machetes, brass knuckles, a baseball bat along with masks, gloves and a number of mobile phones.
Spanish researchers also spoke of a heavy vest that could be put on a body and then thrown into the sea to hide a murder victim.
16 mobile phones, tablets, USB drives and thousands in Euros and British pounds were also seized.
Two Salford men, named in the national press as Steven Britton, 28, and Carne Thomasson, 25, are being held in jail on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, possession of a firearm and membership of an organised crime group.
Each could be held in jail for up to four years before trial.
NCA sting six in Spain in connection with Paul Massey murder
The National Crime Agency (NCA) – dubbed ‘Britain’s FBI’ – had been working with overseas agents and Greater Manchester Police after the brutal daylight shooting dead of Mr Massey in July 2015.
Extra officers had been drafted in, and it’s alleged extra budgets had been made available to teams working the case.
It’s alleged that two members of the A-Team were sent to Spain to find and kill the head of the rival gang known as the ‘Anti A-Team’.
Police believe the man who ordered the assassination of Paul Massey fled to Spain in fear of his life.
Both groups were involved in drug trafficking, and had continued to settle scores in Salford and Manchester, said Spanish National Police.
In a statement Spanish police said: “At the end of January the head of the A-Team personally travelled to Marbella in an attempt to “streamline” the attack, and planned to recruit new gang members to execute the plan.
“The National Crime Agency informed the Spanish police about the concern in Manchester over the feud involving the two rival gangs.
“This had led to shootings of children and women unconnected to the gangs.”
Read: Salford police chief appeals to mums after shooting of woman and boy in Winton
“Those arrested were trying to track their target in Marbella by following his movements.”
Officers from the Policia National Interior raided two homes in Marbella property, arresting five British men and a woman.
“Given the possibility [that the hit was to be carried out] , a police operation was organized to bring about their arrest, which had the support of special operations group security (GOES) from Malaga,” said Spanish National Police.
“The detainees, realizing police presence, fractured telephone terminals and threw SIM cards in the toilet.
“In one of the buildings the police [found] a 9mm Parabellum pistol with a round in the chamber and arranged to be used [with] different ammunition.
“In addition, under the cushion of one of the sofas they found four knives [of such] large dimensions so that they could be used to attack a personality, several ski masks and black gloves.”
The NCA alerted Spanish officials after armed clashes between rival gangs spilled out into the streets of Salford.
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Crime scene in Clifton in the wake of Paul Massey’s murder – © SalfordOnline.com
It is alleged that among the members of the ‘A-Team’ was 28-year-old Steven Britton, who was jailed for five years and four months in 2009 after killing a teenager in a hit-and-run.
He was also questioned over after a man was shot seven times with an Uzi submachine gun in the Ashley Brook pub in Salford.
Watch: Ashley Brook shooting suspect caught on CCTV
A third Briton arrested was allowed to be freed on £7,750 bail while a fourth is expected to appear in Madrid for an extradition hearing.
Agents taking part in the operation included the Costa del Sol Central Organized Crime Brigade General, the UDYCO Central Police Station Judiciary, Greater Manchester Police and the NCA.
