The national police forces dismantled a dangerous criminal network accused of kidnappings, violent robberies, drug trafficking, and the possession of weapons. The operation, reported by INFORMACIÓN on Tuesday, unfolded simultaneously in three locations with a strong show of force in Crevillent. Eleven suspects were arrested there, particularly in the Ángel neighborhood, a known target of the gang. A helicopter and a canine unit underscored the seriousness of the intervention.
The investigation began in mid-2023 when officers from the Elche Police Station’s Special and Violent Crimes Unit (UDEV) noted a pattern of extreme violence. Three young victims were abducted at gunpoint, injured, and threatened with firearms until a substantial ransom was paid to secure their release.
shocking story
The official report describes one victim’s account as profoundly disturbing. An unknown vehicle blocked a street as the victims were traveling along the road that connects Elche and Crevillent. Several men identifying themselves as law enforcement officers exited the vehicle and opened fire into the air to intimidate and compel the victims to surrender. The attackers then forced the victim to reveal where he had hidden a large sum of money, threatening reprisals with a heavy object and pressing the suspect to disclose the location under brutal pressure.
The victim later recounted how he was blindfolded, and only through a painful, coercive process did he reveal the hiding place of the funds.
200,000 euros worth of loot
The captors demanded and obtained a ransom totaling around 200,000 euros. Police evidence indicated that those targeted were members of an opposing criminal faction, a factor that raised concerns among investigators and researchers about the broader implications of such clashes between groups.
Since then, a thorough and persistent investigation has been conducted by the UDEV team, employing multiple methods to gather data while maintaining rigorous security measures to avoid detection—an approach described by officials as essential to a successful resolution.
Theft from other criminal groups
Investigators found that the central criminal operation involved carrying out robberies against other criminal networks and drug trafficking rings. This pattern, known in police parlance as a form of exploitation, posed significant challenges due to limited cooperation from some witnesses. Yet the investigation progressed as investigators traced a fragile thread that led to meaningful breakthroughs.
According to the police, officers in the Ángel neighborhood of Crevillent remained vigilant against this organized group, noting the impact on local residents who faced persistent intimidation and disruption.
The operation was carried out in the early hours of February 6, with searches conducted at nine properties across several municipalities in Alicante and Murcia. Some sites were located in Crevillent, Alcoy, Alguazas, and other nearby towns.
family clan
During the searches, 26 individuals were arrested in connection with the events. Most suspects belonged to the same extended family. Authorities also seized weapons, including four long firearms and four handguns, ammunition, machetes, knives, along with substantial quantities of illegal drugs: 75 grams of cocaine, 40 kilograms of marijuana, and 352 marijuana plants found on properties in Alguazas and Crevillent.
Various special units, including the GOES, the Operational Technical Interventions units from Valencia and Barcelona, and the Madrid-based GOIT, took part in the operation. Local teams from Alicante, Elche, and Murcia Prevention and Response Units, along with canine units, supported the mission, with the Judicial Police brigade in Elche contributing as well.
Altogether, around 100 National Police personnel were involved in the operation, reflecting its scale and significance.
Helicopter
To further ensure safety and situational awareness, the Air Media Unit from the Valencia command center provided aerial support over Alguazas and Crevillent. The Condor helicopter, along with unmanned drones from Murcia and Alicante, helped maintain visibility for responders. One suspect attempted to evade arrest by hiding on a building roof, but authorities said the air cover helped secure his capture.
The 17 men and 9 women detained were all Spanish citizens, aged 17 to 57, with arrests distributed across Alcoy, Alguazas, Crevillent, and Elche. Many had prior police histories tied to similar offenses and were suspected of involvement in large-scale criminal activity.
In the latest developments, 12 of the 26 detainees were brought before the courts in Elche, Alcoy, and Molina del Segura. They face charges that include kidnapping, violent robbery, illegal weapons possession, drug trafficking, bodily harm, property damage, and participation in a criminal organization. The investigation remains active, and more arrests could follow as new information comes to light.
Arrests in Crevillent
The 11 suspects from a family clan based in the old town of Crevillent are believed to have caused significant disruption, with residents describing the neighborhood as a tense and intimidating place during the operation. The Crevillent regional police force provided crucial support to the UDEV team, assisting with entries and searches on February 6 as part of the security effort. The broader regional context also notes ongoing concerns about drug trafficking within the area, underscoring the need for continued vigilance.
Experts note that the modus operandi involved gathering peripheral information from a drug-focused network, then locating and attacking storage sites with force. Investigators also learned that some detainees sold firearms used in the offenses to generate financial gains.