Chilean gang of thieves operating in Murcia, Alicante, and Almeria has been arrested

The Guardia Civil has arrested three members of ” Los Fantasmas,” a Chilean gang that operates in many provinces in the Spanish Levant. These arrests are the outcome of an investigation aimed at disrupting illegal activity such as robberies and theft.

The operation, known as ‘Dominium,’ began after a person reported a €12,000 theft from a Mazarrón bank branch. The police operation showed the perpetrators’ involvement in a number of recent criminal events.

Arrests made

Three guys, ages 36, 37, and 61, were arrested, all of whom were Chileans. Two of them lived in Los Alcázares and Murcia, allowing the Guardia Civil to seize them simultaneously.

In Los Alcázares, police stopped a rental car where several people were waiting at a prearranged spot. This action led in the arrest of two people, one of whom was charged with theft of €35,000 in Orihuela.

Details about the operation

The inquiry acquired information, including security camera footage, which helped identify a guy acting suspiciously within the bank. This person contacted the victim, while other members of the group broke into the car and stole the money.

In Murcia, the apprehension of the third detainee showed that clothing, gloves, and tools used for the robbery were discovered in the suspect’s vehicle.

Methods of the criminal organisation

The “ghosts” planned their criminal acts via wireless communication devices, and they used rental vehicles and temporary lodging as operational bases. They also utilised fictitious names to hide their acts.

This framework enabled them to effectively coordinate and carry out robberies and crimes in multiple locations, taking advantage of opportunities to escape notice.

Crimes involved

The detainees are accused of carrying out various robberies, including a failed heist at a company and another against an individual who had withdrawn €12,000 from a bank. They were also responsible for a theft in Albox, where they stole more than €7,000 worth of motorbike parts.

They have also been linked to a theft of 35,000 euros in Orihuela and another robbery in Huércal-Overa. Operation “Dominium” resulted in the investigation of these crimes and the dismantling of a criminal organisation previously dismantled in Chile in 2018.

Author: Derek Appleton