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Arrest in Alicante as part of an operation to combat child pornography in 11 countries

Alicante National Police

Arrests of 13 individuals for the distribution of child pornography in various Spanish locations, including Alicante, were made by National Police officers in a joint operation coordinated by Europol and involving 11 European countries. In Spain alone, 18 investigations and searches were conducted during the operation, which involved over 100 officers. The seizure of 39 electronic devices, which contained over 41,000 videos and 28,000 photographs of highly sensitive child sexual content, was the result.

In this international operation, which was conducted in conjunction with Spain and ten other countries—Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Sweden—166 individuals were apprehended and 774 searches were conducted with the assistance of international agencies.

The Child Protection Section of the Central Cybercrime Unit conducted the operational action in Spain, coordinating the technological crime investigation groups from various provinces, including Alicante, Barcelona, Cáceres, Castellón, A Coruña, Lleida, Madrid, Navarra, Ourense, Las Palmas, Santander, Tenerife, Valencia, and Zaragoza. The operation was attended by over 100 officers.

39 devices, including laptop and desktop computers, mobile phones, USB flash drives, hard drives, and external memory cards, were seized during the 18 searches. These devices were used to obtain over 41,000 videos and 28,000 images of highly sensitive child sexual content.

Thirteen individuals were apprehended during the operation, with one of them being detained in the province of Alicante. Additionally, five individuals, including a woman, are currently under investigation. This type of investigation is challenging due to the fact that the profile of perpetrators of this type of crime does not follow a very heterogeneous pattern, as their ages range from 17 to 51.

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During the week of March 24th-28th, police forces from a variety of European countries, including Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Sweden, collaborated to conduct a joint and coordinated operation against the possession, production, and distribution of child pornography. Additionally, the United Kingdom’s NCA agency, the FBI and HSI of the United States, and the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) participated in the initiative.

More than 594,000 multimedia files have been downloaded from the 6,000 devices seized in the 774 house arrests and searches conducted at the European level, and 166 individuals have been arrested.


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Costa Blanca

Criminal group dedicated to burglary on farms in the Vega Baja dismantled

As part of Operation “Entrada25,” the Alicante Guardia Civil has dismantled a criminal organisation that was operating in the Vega Baja region and was responsible for burglaries on agricultural estates. Part of the stolen goods have been recovered and returned to their legitimate owners, but the total value of the stolen goods is estimated to exceed 40,000 euros. One individual has been apprehended, and two others are currently being investigated as a consequence of the investigation.

In late 2024, the Torrevieja Field Robbery Team initiated an investigation into the incident in response to numerous complaints. The perpetrators were observed by the investigators to be obtaining access to the facilities by forcing locks or doors, exploiting periods when no personnel were working, and stealing high-value products such as fertilisers, compost, and phytosanitary products.

The Torrevieja Field Robbery Team received assistance from the Seprona (National Police Service) in Guardamar del Segura, the Guardia Civil stations in Guardamar and Callosa de Segura, and the local police forces of Catral, Almoradí, Rafal, Cox, Granja de Rocamora, Algorfa, Benijófar, Formentera del Segura, Rojales, Benejúzar, Los Montesinos, and San Miguel de Salinas. The operation’s success was significantly influenced by the coordinated efforts of all divisions, as well as the investigation and analysis of evidence that was obtained. This led to the identification and location of the perpetrators and the discovery of some of the stolen material.

Additionally, the operation included numerous examinations of suspicious farms, warehouses, and vehicles, which were crucial in elucidating the events.

One of the suspects, a 35-year-old male, was apprehended as part of the established operations at the end of March. Subsequently, two additional males, aged 39 and 48, were identified and investigated. Five counts of burglary and an additional count of membership in a criminal organisation have been filed against each of the three individuals.

The Orihuela Court of Instruction issued an order for the detainee’s release, subject to the imposition of precautionary measures.

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The Civil Guard remains committed to the prevention of this form of crime and underscores the significance of public collaboration in the fight against agricultural theft.


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Costa Blanca

Swift Arrest of Dutch Fugitive in Benidorm

National Police

A 28-year-old Dutch fugitive who was hiding in Benidorm was identified by his evasive conduct. A man in the Marina municipality has been apprehended by National Police officers. The man was the subject of a European Arrest Warrant for Extradition (EAW) issued by the Dutch authorities.

The crime of illegally possessing a firearm in 2024 led to this individual’s nine-month imprisonment. In mid-April, the fugitive fled to Spain after failing to comply with the sentence. The requesting country issued a European Arrest Warrant, with four months remaining.

The fugitive was apprehended by officers from the Benidorm Citizen Security Brigade after they identified him as acting evasively in their presence and verified that he had a European arrest warrant issued.

In January 2024, the detainee was apprehended by the Dutch police while carrying a short firearm without a valid licence. As a result, he was sentenced to three years in pre-sentence prison for the actions he committed.

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Costa Blanca

Torrevieja Local Police remove e-scooters

The Local Police of Torrevieja have removed 22 e-scooters that were improperly parked on the promenade adjacent to Avenue de la Purísima.
The vehicles were reported for parking in a pedestrian zone in a manner that did not adhere to the current regulations.
Parking is not permitted in pedestrian areas, walkways or footpaths. The passage should also not be obstructed by scooters, which should be parked in approved areas.


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Villajoyosa Medieval Market Saturday 3rd May 2025
May 3, 2025    
All Day
Experience Villajoyosa's lovely coastal village and annual mediaeval market on a day trip. You have time to explore the town's attractions, seafront restaurants and cafes, [...]
Expovans & Trucks at IFA-Fira Alacante
The Industrial and Commercial Vehicle and Construction and Public Works Machinery Show, called Expovans & Trucks, is organised by IFA-Fira Alacante and the Alicante Chamber [...]
Events on April 30, 2025
Villajoyosa Medieval Market
30 Apr 25
Benidorm
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