Civil Guard authorities dismantled a highly organized criminal network that specialized in forced robberies. In a coordinated operation, a band nicknamed by authorities as the moon-landing and mace crew, also known as Cerberus Necky, was targeted. Madrid Command announced in a press release that seven individuals were arrested in connection with more than 40 robberies across various establishments in the region.
The operation identified the leader as a 26-year-old Spaniard, widely known by the alias Canada Real Galiana and referred to in reports as Parrales. He is a familiar figure to the State Security Forces and Institutions due to a long-standing criminal record. He is also closely linked to FG, otherwise known as Rafael. Rafite, who faced a four-year term in a detention facility for the 2003 rape, murder, and arson of Sandra Palo, a 14-year-old victim at the time, in a case that drew national attention.
Following his senior role in the network, Rafita reportedly shifted his focus to the world of the moon-landing group along with several of his siblings. In June 2021, Rafita was detained by the Civil Guard in Madrid. He was captured at a car workshop in Leganés and faced charges of leading a gang that robbed 20 bars and restaurants, using stolen BMW vehicles in the spree during March of that year. Parrales was also placed under a ban linked to the investigation.
One of the most active groups
The previously organized faction evolved into one of the most prolific offenders in the region. The group maintained a highly structured operation, employing large-displacement vehicles that had often been stolen beforehand. Their level of organization helped them execute crimes with surprising efficiency and scale.
Records indicate the group had been responsible for an average of around 40 offenses across various parts of the Community of Madrid. There were nights when as many as five robberies occurred in a single evening. The pattern was consistent: operations typically unfolded between 01:00 and 06:00 hours, and many break-ins involved bypassing locking systems to access interiors. They frequently pried doors with crowbars or shattered windows using a sledgehammer, enabling swift entry and exit.
The individuals detained are currently under investigation for involvement in the crime wave, with authorities noting that as many as twenty vehicles had been stolen and a substantial amount of movement occurred in the most recent quarter of activity. Arrests took place in the municipalities of Anchuelo and Alcalá de Henares. In seven houses that were searched, the Civil Guard recovered 12,000 euros in cash, tools for vehicle theft, and a large collection of items linked to the crimes in question and those under investigation.
Among the detainees are seven males aged between 26 and 48, several of whom already have extensive records of property crimes. They now face multiple charges, including membership in a criminal organization, forcible robbery of commercial establishments, theft of motor vehicles, and forgery of documents. Following judicial proceedings, several suspects were remanded in custody.
The operation was conducted by the Organized Crime Group of the Judicial Police Organic Unit, together with the Rock Team of the 4th Company of Alcalá de Henares. Both units are part of the Madrid Civil Guard Command and collaborated to dismantle the network and secure the recovered assets. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of Spanish law enforcement to disrupt professional crime rings and protect local communities. This update also serves as a reminder to the public in North American audiences that such organized threats require vigilance and cooperation with authorities.
Citation: Civil Guard press materials and regional police reports