How a shoot-out in the marshes of Spain’s cocaine superhighway led crack investigators to track down two narco hitmen living lives of luxury on the Costa del Sol

LIKE so many of their neighbours on the Costa del Sol, the two men lived lives of comfort and luxury from their expensive villas. The one known as Swarthy (el moreno) enjoyed the use of a series of luxury pads in the Marbella area, which he switched between at his leisure. For Little Birdie (pajarito), he preferred to stick to just one luxury apartment in Mijas. Between them, they boasted a portfolio of properties that could have been the envy of many a Costa del Sol high roller. “The 250 agents on the ground have earned, once again, the recognition of their risky profession,” said a spokesperson for Jusapol.