21 Sep, 2021 @ 14:15
1 min read

Massive police bust leads to more than 100 arrests for mafia money laundering in Spain

Mafia men arrested in Spain

A GROUP of 106 people have been arrested in a joint operation between Spanish and Italian police for allegedly laundering millions for mafia gangs. 

Spanish police said members of the organisation, which often used violence to intimidate victims and extort money from businesses and individuals, had penetrated various Spanish banks and law firms.

Italy’s police force said the suspects tricked their victims, who were also mostly Italian, into sending large sums to Spanish bank accounts controlled by the group.

According to Europol, the gang made around €10 million profit through online scams. 

The cash was then laundered through cryptocurrency purchases or reinvested in other criminal activities like prostitution, narcotics or arms trafficking.

Most of the suspected members were Italian nationals and the majority of the arrests took place on Tenerife.

During the operation, Spanish and Italian officers froze 118 bank accounts and seized 224 credit cards and a marijuana plantation.

Twenty of those arrested were sent to jail pending the judicial investigation, 18 in Spain and two in Italy.

READ MORE

Terenia Taras

Terenia Taras has been a regular Olive Press columnist since April 2020 after moving to Mallorca in the same year. Having spent over 20 years working as a journalist for the UK national press, including as an investigative journalist for the infamous News of the World newspaper. When she's not venting in the Olive Press, Terenia loves to travel, read and interior design. Got a story? Email [email protected]

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

La Palma's Cumbre Vieja Volcano Erupts
Previous Story

FROM THE AIR: Latest extraordinary images of volcano eruption on the Canary Island of La Palma in Spain

volcano la palma
Next Story

‘I have lost my home…my neighbourhood’: La Palma residents watch helplessly as lava flow swallows up property in Spain’s Canary Islands

Latest from Crime & Law

Go toTop

More From The Olive Press