Nine individuals were arrested by national police agents in Madrid as part of an investigation into a kidnapping case. The authorities reported that the victims were rescued by the Special Operations Group (GEO) after the operation, which unfolded during the early hours of the investigation.
The victims had been lured into meetings under the pretense of exchanging vehicles. They were threatened and forced into a vehicle using a firearm before the suspects fled the scene. A total of three women and six men are currently detained and face charges including kidnapping, wounding, extortion, violence, and intimidation.
The inquiry, known as Operation Maverick, began on January 17 following complaints from the relatives of the abducted individuals. Investigators learned that the criminals had contacted the families demanding a ransom for the release of the captives. A ransom payment was attempted, and money was recovered by investigators; a second demand was later not fulfilled.
The suspects allegedly took money to purchase the car used in the operation and the vehicle associated with the meeting point was also used during the kidnapping procedure.
As the investigation progressed, potential locations connected to those involved were identified, including an abandoned building in Madrid. The fully occupied site complicated the police response, yet search efforts continued with determination.
After further negotiations between the kidnappers and the relatives to secure a financial settlement for the hostages, authorities prepared to intervene. On January 19, a coordinated plan was executed to secure the release of the victims and arrest those responsible for the kidnapping. The operation progressed with precision, and GEO units entered the building to locate and free the captives, who appeared to be in good health.
prisoners
During the operation, eight individuals were apprehended, including three who were inside the hijacked car, on charges related to kidnapping, wounding, robbery by force, and intimidation. A ninth suspect was detained four days later in connection with the case. Two of the detainees hold prior criminal records. The group comprised six Spanish nationals, two Colombians, and one Peruvian; ages ranged from 23 to 62 years old.
Among those arrested was Ramón Santiago Jiménez, known as ‘Ramón’, aged 37. He had a prior conviction from his youth for the kidnapping and assault of Sandra Palo in Getafe in 2003, a case that involved grave violence. After a period in a rehabilitation facility, he resumed criminal activity, and his most recent offense in 2022 involved a theft of 6,000 euros accomplished by spraying a victim with a fire extinguisher.
Following the arrests, three men, including the individual referred to as ‘Ramón’, were immediately detained. Authorities reported the seizure of more than 16,000 euros in cash, a repeating shotgun, and two vehicles. The operation remains active as investigations continue to unfold and more details may emerge as the case progresses. [Attribution: General Directorate of Security and local law enforcement statements]