Malaga Deception theft gang busted by Guardia Civil

THE GUARDIA CIVIL has arrested four members of a violent criminal gang specialising in deception thefts in Malaga. 

Targeting entrepreneurs from Seville to Malaga the members of the gang would pose as building contractors with the proposition of selling property owned by a business group in Cordoba at a very attractive price. They would then demand that the payment be made in cash to avoid the attention of the tax authorities. 

The cunning criminals would organise for the transaction to take place in the village of Slate in Malaga where an office unit had been rented for extra credibility. 

Upon entering the office, the victims would be started upon by two gang members who were masked and armed with guns.  After repeated beatings, the victims were then handcuffed, gagged and locked inside the office. Briefcases containing about €200,000 in cash and other personal effects were taken. 

The incidents were reported to the Guardia Civil who immediately began a huge operation to track down the organisation. After several months, the four members of the organisation were located and arrested. 

Arrests have been made in the towns of Slate in Malaga, Puente Genil, Córdoba and Villarrobledo, Albacete. Amongst the seized goods at the premises, Police confiscated firearms, a bulletproof vest, balaclavas, handcuffs, more than 100,000 counterfeit euros,  €5,000 in legal tender notes and several mobile phones, among other effects.

On arrest, the Police determined that the gang were preparing to strike again with the seizure of hundreds of euros of counterfeit money. 

The arrests sees the complete dismantlement of an organised criminal gang composing of Spanish nationals and other Eastern European nationals. 

The operation was conducted by agents belonging to Group Heritage Organic Unit of the Judicial Police Command of the Civil Guard in Malaga.