SPAIN - Daniel, 46, & Liam Poole, 22, British tourists, Estepona, Malaga, 1 Apr 2019

[Satchie]

The elephant in the room is how quickly the police put out a press release. They KNOW something happened to them... they probably know what. The police don't start looking for fully grown men in less than a week of being missing unless they know something is wrong.

I disagree, I think that appeal was an attempt to reach them with the message "call home, your family are worried about you". The police message would reach anyone connected with them on social media back home, as well as other tourists in that area in Spain who might come across them.

ETA: I see these news releases frequently in local media, usually followed by a news update that the missing person got back in touch and is okay

 

[lolafaith]

Two Britons arrested in Marbella's San Pedro and Mijas accused of using fruit export company to traffick drugs to the UK - Olive Press News Spain

San Pedro is right next to Estepona, I'm not saying it's them or speculating, just saw this in the Spanish media today.

 

[ZaZara]

'No significant leads' in mystery of British father and son who vanished a MONTH ago from Spain's Costa del Sol - Olive Press News Spain

SPANISH police are no closer to finding out what happened to a British father and son who disappeared from the Costa del Sol four weeks ago.

Daniel and Liam Poole, aged 46 and 22, were last seen in Estepona on April 1 while enjoying a six day break together.

But after reportedly spending around €12 in an internet cafe in the seaside town, there is no recorded activity from the two men.

“The investigation remains open but we do not have any significant leads,” Policia Nacional told the Olive Press today.

“We are still treating it as a missing persons case.”


BBM

 

[moonriverfarm]

Is English the second language for the family members posting here?

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Is English the second language for the family members posting here?

I pick up an Irish phrasing, but I could be wrong. I have family links to Ireland myself.

 

[Skigh]

I pick up an Irish phrasing, but I could be wrong. I have family links to Ireland myself.

Do you think they were traveller ing from Ireland?
I think they were from Sussex!

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Do you think they were traveller ing from Ireland?
I think they were from Sussex!

Nooo I think I just wondered if there's Irish heritage in the family. No relevance to anything, just me with my interest in how people phrase things.

 

[Coconutty]

People are asking questions about the cash as do far there’s various suggestions that they had money on them, either to purchase a specialist car or a property.

This could have made them a target. Sadly Spain can and does attract some nefarious types.

 

[Stanly]

I wonder if something happened over here causing them to run, rather than go over there and something go wrong.
I don't get why they needed to buy a new sim. From there on it all seems a bit 'off". A pre-planned new life or dealings of some sort going wrong. Either way, IMO they were expecting 'something' if that makes sense?
I don't believe it was your normal going to look at properties sort of trip.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

I wonder if something happened over here causing them to run, rather than go over there and something go wrong.
I don't get why they needed to buy a new sim. From there on it all seems a bit 'off". A pre-planned new life or dealings of some sort going wrong. Either way, IMO they were expecting 'something' if that makes sense?
I don't believe it was your normal going to look at properties sort of trip.

I'm not sure the family confirmed it was new sim cards, only that they spent €12 in an internet cafe (where, presumably, they could have bought new sims).

However, in this day and age when most people have the internet at their fingertips and free phone use (within the EU) if they DID buy new sim cards it makes me feel suspicious. I don't know anyone that has had to buy new sims to use their phones in Spain.

 

[Elainera]

When you use a sim card from one country in another country, even within the EU, every call and sms is charged at international rates. I know this from family members who travelled between Spain, France and Germany. If you don't use WhatsApp or a similar app it can add up quickly. My mom went through 50 Euro in a week or so. To me it's not suspicious at all to buy a local sim, especially as Daniel wanted to settle in Spain anyway. jmo

 

[ZaZara]

When you use a sim card from one country in another country, even within the EU, every call and sms is charged at international rates. I know this from family members who travelled between Spain, France and Germany. If you don't use WhatsApp or a similar app it can add up quickly. My mom went through 50 Euro in a week or so. To me it's not suspicious at all to buy a local sim, especially as Daniel wanted to settle in Spain anyway. jmo

When was that?

Since June 2017 it's Roam like at Home in the EU if you are from a member state. If not, it makes sense to buy a local simcard but you cannot buy these anonymously. And your even less anonymous if you pay for it with your bank card.

If they bought a sim card, their phones can be traced.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

When you use a sim card from one country in another country, even within the EU, every call and sms is charged at international rates. I know this from family members who travelled between Spain, France and Germany. If you don't use WhatsApp or a similar app it can add up quickly. My mom went through 50 Euro in a week or so. To me it's not suspicious at all to buy a local sim, especially as Daniel wanted to settle in Spain anyway. jmo

That's not strictly true. I've been to Spain (and other EU countries) loads and never once had additional charges for calls or texts. I can phone England or one of the people I'm abroad with for free so I guess it must depend on your contract and provider. I suppose there might have been charges for D&L to access the internet while driving about, rather than relying on hotel/cafe wi-fi.

PS I did once get a £5 charge when I was in Kos (Greece). The island is so close to Turkey, about 3 or 4 miles, that my phone picked up that I was in a non-EU country and automatically charged me a one off fee. When I got home and rang to get the charge waived the woman kept saying "but you must have been near Turkey"... well yes love, I could even see Turkey from the beach, but I still wasn't actually in it!!

 

[Elainera]

When was that?

Since June 2017 it's Roam like at Home in the EU if you are from a member state.

This was last year September.

I guess it must depend on your contract and provider.

Yes I guess it probably depends on the provider and if you have roaming enabled. My mom had no smartphone and did not know about these things. (I hardly understand it all myself!) She had a Spanish sim card and went to Germany. All the local calls were charged as if she was in Spain, and incoming calls also! So she eventually got a German sim card.

We don't know what kind of providers/contracts Daniel and Liam had/have. Maybe it made sense for them to buy a local number (if they did).

 

[Skigh]

I wonder if something happened over here causing them to run, rather than go over there and something go wrong.
I don't get why they needed to buy a new sim. From there on it all seems a bit 'off". A pre-planned new life or dealings of some sort going wrong. Either way, IMO they were expecting 'something' if that makes sense?
I don't believe it was your normal going to look at properties sort of trip.

I agree.Perhaps they do not want to be found.

 

[lolafaith]

Fresh appeal to help find missing father and son Daniel and Liam Pool

If the Sussex Major Crime Team are involved, are we thinking they were involved in something dodgy, or would they normally be involved with missing people cases?

 

[Elgana]

Fresh appeal to help find missing father and son Daniel and Liam Pool

If the Sussex Major Crime Team are involved, are we thinking they were involved in something dodgy, or would they normally be involved with missing people cases?

I don't think the Major Crime Team would be involved unless they had good reason to believe a serious crime may have taken place. I don't know this for sure but seems unlikely for a general missing persons case where no foul play is suspected.

I am from Sussex and my understanding is that the Major Crime Team are usually involved in things like murders and larger scale crimes.

 

[ZaZara]

Fresh appeal to help find missing father and son Daniel and Liam Pool

If the Sussex Major Crime Team are involved, are we thinking they were involved in something dodgy, or would they normally be involved with missing people cases?

"We know that Daniel and Liam hired a grey Peugeot 308 car when they got to Spain but this has not been returned to the car hire firm. We would like to hear from anyone who has seen them, the car or has any information about their whereabouts in Spain or any other location since 31 March."

If you can assist with the investigation report online or ring 101 quoting Operation Pheasant.


BBM


Operation Pheasant?? Pheasants are gamebirds.

 

[lolafaith]

Pheasants also classified as fowl = foul play perhaps?

So if the reason for major crime team being involved is unusual, we would be right in thinking that there has not been an accident near water, and this is part of a bigger story, perhaps involving known criminals from the costa or sussex, and there is evidence somewhere that points to either them being involved in a crime, or a crime being committed against them?

 

[ZaZara]

Pheasants also classified as fowl = foul play perhaps?

So if the reason for major crime team being involved is unusual, we would be right in thinking that there has not been an accident near water, and this is part of a bigger story, perhaps involving known criminals from the costa or sussex, and there is evidence somewhere that points to either them being involved in a crime, or a crime being committed against them?

There are various scenarios IMHO. An accident, be it into water or into a ravine, still hasn't been excluded, but LE knows a lot more about D & L than they tell, and they tell next to nothing.