Fifteen members of a family clan have been detained by civil security authorities, with fourteen already in custody for robbery and theft offenses. The seizures span Alicante, Barcelona, Castellón and Valencia, and include jewelry and watches valued at nearly one million euros, among which items once linked to a high-profile First Division football coach are reported to have appeared.
The operation, named “Nebok,” began after the Valencian Civil Guard identified a pattern of home burglaries and thefts. It is described as organized along family lines across the previously mentioned provinces, with clearly defined roles for each step of the criminal activity.
Alleged perpetrators employed a variety of methods to carry out crimes, including distraction techniques, negligence, and forced entry through doors and windows.
The suspects are said to comprise a mix of individuals from Balkan countries and a mobile international group that operates with the aid of radios, discarded phone cards, and a rotating set of addresses and crime territories, enabling mobility and concealment.
According to Civil Guard reports, the detainees lived off the cash amassed from robberies and used counterfeit documents, including forged driver’s licenses and identity papers, which facilitated their stays in hotels and hostels.
The clan is also accused of deceiving a third party who sold two Rolex watches to the group; the sale reportedly occurred for 40,000 euros in counterfeit currency. Others who purchased jewelry were likewise influenced by these stolen items.
On May 2, Valencian Civil Guard teams conducted four home searches in Alcàsser (Valencia), Sagunto (Valencia), Vinaròs (Castellón) and Torrevieja (Alicante).
The operation resulted in the detention of fifteen individuals with Czech, Croatian, Serbian and Bosnian origins, aged between 19 and 63. They face charges including membership in a criminal organization, continuing theft with force, burglary, money laundering, document falsification, reception and fraud, and related offenses.
Recovered items include jewelry and watches valued at around 900,000 euros. In addition, walkie-talkies, counterfeit license plates and forged personal documents were seized, alongside five vehicles valued at about 50,000 euros.
Other seized items include high-end tools, compressors, generator sets, sporting goods, bicycles, scooters, game consoles, catalytic converters, metal detectors, and quads, with a total value surpassing 150,000 euros. In the end, more than 50,000 euros in cash was located on the premises.
Officials indicate that some of the jewellery already traced to its origin appears to have been stolen from residences, with at least part of the collection linked to a residence associated with a well-known football coach of the top tier. The investigation continues to determine the full provenance of the recovered pieces, while the prosecutor’s office has been informed of the proceedings, and Civil Guard investigators from the Llíria unit and the Valencia Court of First Instance are handling the case; fourteen of the detainees have been ordered to remain in custody pending further judicial action (Civil Guard statements, 2024).