National Police authorities dismantled a network of hackers linked to the youth gang known as Dominican Play (DDP), uncovering a cybercrime financing operation used to fund violent clashes between rival factions. The program reportedly supported the purchase of weapons and illegal drugs, compounding concerns about street-level violence and organized crime infiltration.
In a coordinated effort, 150 agencies conducted simultaneous searches across multiple locations. Authorities seized weapons, documents detailing the structure and regulation of DDP, cash, and narcotics assets. The operation underscored the extended reach of the criminal network and its ability to translate digital crime into real-world threats.
During a press conference held on Wednesday, officials provided additional context. José García Serrano, chief of the Computer Fraud Brigade, and Luis Balbín Carrero, head of the Madrid Provincial Intelligence Brigade II, offered briefings on the case along with other investigators. Their comments highlighted the scale of the operation and the procedural steps taken to disrupt the gang’s activities.
In total, authorities reported 66 detainees, including 19 members connected to various groups operating in Madrid. The searches targeted multiple areas including Getafe, Pozuelo, and Soria, following a series of raids and seizures aimed at crippling the gang’s leadership and logistical capabilities. The case illustrates how criminal networks coordinate across jurisdictions through online platforms and offline networks, bridging digital fraud with physical outcomes.
Officials stated that the organization used social engineering techniques to carry out bank fraud across Spain, leveraging the expertise of nine hackers of Brazilian nationality. The operation revealed a sophisticated approach to deception, enabling financial gains through manipulated communications and compromised accounts, while exposing vulnerabilities in monetary and digital payment ecosystems.
Evidence also included firearms, including two pistols, three shotguns, five machetes, ammunition, cash, and assorted materials related to the Dominik Don’t Play network. Investigators noted that the group invested in virtual currencies and used intermediary actors to move funds, creating a layered financing network that complicated traceability and enforcement efforts.
As part of ongoing enforcement under the latest Anti-Band Plan, launched earlier in the year in Madrid and periodically updated, authorities have tracked a widening set of indicators. At the latest briefing, officials reported thousands of checks and dozens of actions across the capital region and beyond, reflecting a sustained push to disrupt organized cybercrime and related criminal economies. The National Police stressed the importance of cross-agency collaboration and continued surveillance to prevent further mobilization of the gang and to safeguard community safety.