The Férula operation led to a detailed inquiry by the Murcia Civil Guard into fraud linked to dental clinics in San Pedro del Pinatar and Pilar de la Horadada. The investigation uncovered forged documents, pressure based on marital status, and the arrest of a leading suspect involved in a criminal organization, with two others under investigation.
The Civil Guard has identified 46 victims so far, with losses totaling around one hundred thousand euros derived from fraudulent aid and loans. The case began when a resident of San Pedro del Pinatar reported being targeted by fraud and abuse of power at a local dental clinic. The victim explained that she sought a loan for dental treatment through the clinic, only to discover that a second financing request had been made in her name, about which she had no knowledge.
After informing the clinic’s managers, they claimed it was a banking error that would be corrected, while the patient continued to face two loans for the same dental service. The investigation traced the operation to druggling practices at the San Pedro del Pinatar clinic and linked similar clinics in Murcia and Pilar de la Horadada, run by the same individuals, suggesting a wider scheme.
So far, the Benemérita has uncovered numerous affected persons, including 46 heirs of deceased individuals who were solicited with posthumous loans. In several instances, banks were asked to demand repayment from the heirs or family members of the alleged borrowers.
According to the inquiry, the suspects carried out the fraud through two main methods. One involved presenting a loan request for the dental treatment budget and then inflating the amount, applying for a second loan in the suspect’s name and convincing the patient to extend the line of credit. The other method relied on obtaining confidential information from people who had never fallen ill at the clinics, using a third party in custody to apply for consumer loans and to misuse personal data to establish new lines of credit, phone contracts, or even open bank accounts.
In the second phase of the investigation, platforms tied to I-dental and Dentix joined the case, revealing around 40 frauds among their members. Reports indicate the alleged ringleader attended a meeting of residents on the Las Torres de Cotillas platform, presenting himself as a benefactor who offered substantial discounts and claiming to represent the interests of those affected. He reportedly promised significant savings while steering many patients toward the implicated clinic, leading to repeated victimization.
The Murcia Regional College of Dentists also joined the proceedings after numerous complaints about malpractice, including the improper use of medical supplies and inferior materials, as well as adverse outcomes for some patients. Several individuals subsequently sought care at alternative clinics or even required emergency services due to severe pain that hindered daily activities such as eating.
Rather than settling with patients, members of the criminal group allegedly instructed victims to make payments to the Tax Office, fabricating debts exceeding one hundred thousand euros owed to the public institution. The operation culminated in the arrest of a 33-year-old Romanian man, with investigations continuing against two additional suspects, one man and one woman, including two Spanish nationals. The charges include fraud, forged documents, extortion related to marital status, and membership in a criminal organization.
All individuals arrested or under investigation were presented to the Court No. 1 in San Javier, Murcia, alongside the formal proceedings initiated in connection with the case. Citations: official statements from the Civil Guard and regional medical authorities were noted in the ongoing proceedings.