Former Baku FC player arrested over drug trafficking

Former Baku FC player Sergio Contreras Pardo has been arrested.

Report informs citing the AFP that Pardo was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of heading a drugs ring, police said following a string of raids in southern Spain.

The 36-year-old player nicknamed Koke was arrested in the seaside town of Estepona during a string of simultaneous police raids which also took place in Malaga, Granada and Sevilla, police said.

"Some 20 people were arrested. They were in possession of nearly a tonne of hashish and 700,000 euros ($775,000)," a police spokeswoman said, indicating the operation was "still under way".

Speaking to AFP, a police source said Contreras was "in charge" of the smuggling outfit.

"He was the head of the organisation," the source told AFP, saying the raids had also turned up various weapons, including sidearms and rifles, as well as paperwork.

Contreras is currently being held at a police station in Malaga.

Notably, Koke, who played within Baku FC in 2012, completed his career four years later.