The National Police have arrested seven individuals in an operation against a criminal organisation that was involved in a robbery in Benidorm. The robbers stole 60,000 euros from an Elche resident who was planning to purchase cryptocurrency, but he was bound and left without any money. Additionally, the group broke into seven safes at a villa in Vistahermosa, Alicante, and stole over 12,000 euros in cash, jewellery, and a gun.
The operation is currently underway to arrest additional suspects and investigate any additional robberies that the dismantled gang may have committed. The seven arrests were made in Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, and Elche, according to sources close to the investigation.
Investigators conducted searches in the aforementioned cities and at a residence in Sant Joan d’Alacant, but the sought individual was not located. According to a confession made by one of the detainees to the officers who inspected his home, the searches resulted in the seizure of over 11,000 euros in cash, a pistol with a silencer, several simulated handguns and rifles, various pieces of jewellery, at least two stolen vehicles in Francia and Castalla, and numerous tools. Additionally, forged documents and nearly a kilo of cocaine—approximately 700 grams—that had been stolen were seized.
Two women were released by the National Police after they appeared at police stations. Five other detainees, two of whom were represented by lawyers Alba Herranz of the office of Francisco Miguel Galiana Botella and Aitor Esteban Gallastegui, were taken before a court. According to sources from the Superior Court of Justice (TSJ) of the Valencian Community, Benidorm’s Court of First Instance No. 3, which served as the duty court, received these five detainees and ordered the provisional detention of four of them without parole and with prior notice.
According to the Supreme Court of Justice, the fifth individual arrested was released after being subjected to precautionary measures, which included the revocation of his passport, a prohibition on leaving the country, and periodic court appearances.
The case remains open for the crimes of theft with violence and membership in a criminal group, according to the same sources from the Supreme Court.
Similarly, two of the detainees who were sentenced to prison were brought before Alicante Court of First Instance No. 4, where they had an open case for another crime of larceny with violence, according to the same sources. The police are filing charges against each detainee for larceny with violence, unlawful detention, theft with force, drug trafficking, violation of road safety regulations, falsification of documents, and membership in a criminal organisation, contingent upon the extent of their involvement.
Collaborative endeavour
Officers from the Specialised Crime Group of the Alicante Provincial Judicial Police Brigade and Group IV of the Specialised and Violent Crime Unit (UDEV) of the Benidorm Police Station collaborated to execute the operation.
A burglary at a villa in Alicante and a robbery at an office in Benidorm were being investigated by both organisations in their respective capacities. The same perpetrators were identified by their investigations: a group of citizens from Russia, Ukraine, and Bulgaria, many of whom had already been convicted of similar offences.
The most significant robbery took place at a Benidorm establishment that was operated by a Russian man who traded cryptocurrencies. This individual has since been apprehended for his involvement in a conspiracy to steal one of his customers. The victim was a resident of Elche who arrived with €60,000 in cash to purchase cryptocurrencies, and the robbery took place late in the morning on June 6th.
The wife of the manager of the business where the cryptocurrency transaction was to be conducted, who was also apprehended, attempted to convince the National Police that her husband had been abducted. The man informed the patrols that three individuals had attacked the Elche neighbour he had arranged to meet and dispossessed him of his money before fleeing the scene.
The police investigation uncovered that the business proprietor and his wife had allegedly collaborated in plans to steal 60,000 euros from the Elche resident. Additionally, it was determined that a total of nine individuals had either directly or indirectly participated in the events.
Police have also implicated a member of the group responsible for the Benidorm larceny in a burglary that occurred on April 12th at a villa in Vistahermosa, Alicante, where a Chinese family resides.
They also devised this robbery, exploiting the owner’s journey to China. The robbers broke into seven safes that were dispersed throughout the house, some of which were installed in locations that were only known to the couple and a few workers who were renovating the house, when the woman departed for Alicante.
They followed the woman to prevent her from returning early. When she parked in Alicante, they punctured or deflated two of her tyres to delay her ability to summon a tow truck. Upon her return home, the victim discovered that a licensed pistol, several pieces of jewellery, and approximately 12,500 euros had been stolen.
Two of the vehicles confiscated from the detained individuals are a van that was reported stolen in France and a BMW X5 with bent licence plates that was stolen in December 2024 in Castalla and was utilised by the gang in their criminal activities.
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