Coordination Across Borders Leads to Arrest in Malaga
The Civil Guard detained a 36-year-old French national in the province of Malaga who was reported as a fugitive by French authorities. An International Arrest and Surrender Order issued by the Marseille Court in 2019 remains active as the basis for the detention.
The individual was sentenced in France to six years in prison on charges including membership in a criminal organization, drug trafficking, and money laundering. French authorities indicated that the man was tied to a broad drug network and carried substantial sums of money believed to be proceeds of drug trafficking, with connections extending to multiple countries on an international scale. This summary of charges was provided in the official decree from Paris authorities. (Civil Guard attribution)
Coordination with Portugal and France
Questions about the investigation timeline point to cooperative efforts with the Paris Recherches Branch of the French Gendarmerie and the Portuguese Judicial Police, which helped determine the possible presence of the individual in Spain. The Civil Guard released a statement detailing this cross-border collaboration. (Civil Guard attribution)
The fugitive had already been detained by Portuguese authorities in September 2021. He managed to escape custody using false documents, prompting continued pursuit under an international arrest warrant. The case then shifted to a comprehensive European effort to locate and identify those involved. (Portugal and France attribution)
From there, the Civil Guard monitored several targets for months, focusing on movements between Spain and Portugal, with Marbella in Malaga emerging as a key point of activity. The investigation intensified as agents traced patterns and associations that linked the suspect to particular associates and locations. (Civil Guard attribution)
Information gathered in the weeks prior pointed to the suspect’s close contact with an emotional partner, whose movements were also tracked after sightings of the two men meeting in a Marbella parking area. A subsequent physical recognition confirmed the suspect, who was then arrested on the spot. (Civil Guard attribution)
Escaped Teams
The Escaped from Justice squad focuses on identifying individuals evading legal accountability and ensuring compliance with penalties or other procedures in both Spain and abroad. The unit handles high-profile cases that attract cooperation from Spanish and foreign judicial authorities. The team relies on national and international collaboration, exchanging information with other police forces and international organizations dealing with fugitives. (Escaped from Justice attribution)
Police cooperation remains a central pillar, enabling swift action across borders and reinforcing the authority of Spanish investigations on the international stage. (Escaped from Justice attribution)
List
In 2022, the Escaped from Justice team located and detained a substantial number of individuals at the request of national and international authorities. The arrests encompassed a range of offenses and jurisdictions, underscoring the unit’s active role in maintaining cross-border security. (Escaped from Justice attribution)
Among notable cases cited in the year were a high-profile arrest in Tarragona, where a suspect implicated in a million-dollar VAT fraud scheme was apprehended. The individual had been on the United Kingdom’s wanted list since 2013 for involvement in a large-scale fraud operation. (UK attribution)
Another significant arrest involved a Colombian national sought by the National Court in connection with murder allegations and membership in major guerrilla groups. The suspect was apprehended in Brunete, Madrid, as part of a broader extradition process. (Colombia attribution)
Regarding Spanish nationals, attention was drawn to a person charged with drug trafficking, membership in a criminal organization, and money laundering who faced a 19-year prison sentence in absentia while ongoing trials continued in other cases. (Valencian Provincial Court attribution)
Officials emphasized that while the year’s arrests represent only a sample, they reflect the substantial impact of cross-border enforcement efforts. The Civil Guard’s international collaboration is highlighted as a means to strengthen law enforcement presence beyond national borders and to recognize the value of coordinated actions with foreign police authorities. (UCO attribution)