An international police operation carried out in Benidorm targeted a sophisticated fraud ring that posed as civil guards and investigative officers. The scheme depended on forged identities and counterfeit uniforms to deceive a Russian businessman and extract cryptocurrency totaling about half a million euros. The group relied on drug‑trafficking contacts and a debt‑burdened lawyer to lend credibility to their demands. Eight suspects were detained in Alicante and Benidorm as the investigation unfolded, with nearly all detainees tied to the two coastal cities.
Those accused face a range of charges, including illegal detention, usurpation of public office, fraud, extortion, and membership in a criminal organization. The operation was directed by a leader who presented himself as a high‑ranking police official and claimed close ties to senior generals and national security bodies. Among the arrested were two individuals who impersonated civil rangers to abduct the Russian businessman, and the person who organized the plan. The arrests happened at a screen printing facility in Alicante where uniforms and equipment were apparently manufactured or stored.
The takedown followed extensive inquiries in Benidorm after the Russian victim reported the scam early last year. He explained to investigators that two people dressed in Civil Guard‑style clothing blocked his vehicle, inspected his documents, and claimed a valid license verification was required. An international arrest warrant issued by Interpol and coordinated searches in Spain and the Russian Federation formed part of the response.
The victim was stunned by the confrontation, especially when the so‑called officers drove him to Alicante under the influence of a supposed legal representative who claimed access to high‑level police and corporate circles. At a law office, the claimed attorney pressed for half a million euros in bitcoin to settle demands linked to corporate positions and to render an extradition order ineffective. Several cryptocurrency wallets were presented as payment options, and once the victim realized the fraud, it was too late to back out. He filed a formal complaint, prompting a wider police review of the incident.
Initial investigations confirmed that the victim had fallen prey to a carefully staged fraud scheme. The case involved multiple law and enforcement agencies, with work extending beyond ten months. Investigators uncovered a clear hierarchy within the gang, detailing each member’s role. One organizer leveraged connections between an Alicante‑based law firm and its clients to groom potential victims for extortion or fraud.
The operation included ongoing guidance from the group leader, who orchestrated actions disguised as Civil Guard operations or as members of intelligence services, notably the national intelligence service. The level of realism was such that the group disseminated false news and even appeared credible in the press, reinforcing the perception of authenticity among victims. Police later determined the organization’s plan to target another criminal network involved in large maritime drug shipments, especially cannabis, using the same impersonation tactics intended to elicit substantial sums of money, though that attempt did not succeed.
Investigators found that a separate attempt involved another Alicante‑based lawyer facing a debt related to drug trafficking. The group allegedly sent rented operatives to enforce payment and to position a member of the organization as personal security, demanding large fees under the guise of providing protection. The overall effort demonstrated troubling sophistication and a calculated approach to defrauding multiple parties while exploiting professional and legal appearances to sustain the scheme.