National Police of the Kingdom of Spain, together with the Georgian Interior Ministry, conducted a successful large-scale operation in various cities of Spain and arrested 129 members of the Armenian-Georgian criminal gang, including 7 ‘thieves-in-law’ in the Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Albacete, Murcia, Girona and Granada provinces.

The special operation was evaluated by Europol and Interpol as one of the most important measures against international organized criminal groups of former Soviet origin since 2010.

The Georgian MIA reports that a total of 800 Spanish and Georgian law enforcement officers took part in the operation, which was ongoing for 2.5 years.

As a result of the same operation in Madrid and Valencia, two citizens of Georgia were detained for owning an illegal plant where stolen jewelry was processed.  They were also found to be managing the illegal finances of the criminal group.

The members of the Armenian-Georgian criminal group are accused of criminal gang membership, drug trafficking, money laundering, break-ins, illegal trade, tobacco smuggling, illegal possession of arms, falsification of documents, fraud, extortion and corruption in sports deals.

By Thea Morrison