Six arrested in Salamanca after dismantling criminal organisation linked to jewellery heist
The Guardia Civil dismantled the gang in Operation 'Vulneres' following a violent robbery in Santa Marta de Tormes. The arrested individuals face charges of armed robbery, grievous bodily harm and drug trafficking.
Criminal gang dismantled in Salamanca with weapons, drugs and Guardia Civil uniforms
The Guardia Civil arrested six people and dismantled a criminal organisation active in several Spanish provinces, according to ABC. The operation, named 'Vulneres', was led by the Judicial Police Organic Unit of the Salamanca Command and concluded this Tuesday with raids in two municipalities in the Salamanca area.
The investigation began in April when a masked man violently assaulted a jewellery shop in Santa Marta de Tormes. The assailant, wearing a mask, fired a firearm at the shop owner and caused him serious injuries.
Judicial Police specialists conducted a technical on-site inspection and took statements from witnesses, which allowed them to identify an initial suspect with numerous criminal convictions. Monitoring his movements led officers to three other people who, as explained to the media by Lieutenant Carbajo Pérez of the Judicial Police Organic Unit, operated under his leadership.
The four arrested individuals are of Spanish, Croatian and Albanian origin. They resided in Villares de la Reina and Aldeaseca de la Armuña, two municipalities near Salamanca, and travelled to commit the crimes aboard a vehicle stolen in Guadalajara province to which they had affixed forged number plates.
The police operation was supported by the National Security Unit, the USECIC, the Pegaso team for drone flights, the drug detection canine service and the Protocol office, all under the direction of the command's property management team.
During the raids conducted this Tuesday in a house and a warehouse in Villares de la Reina and Aldeaseca de la Armuña, officers recovered the pistol, mask and forged number plates used in the Santa Marta de Tormes robbery. All these items were found in the gang leader's bedroom.
The material seized included five loaded pistols, one carbine, two replica revolvers, one taser pistol, four vests bearing the Guardia Civil insignia, coshes, a machete, tools for committing robberies, 400 cannabis plants and cocaine.
The Guardia Civil also determined that the organisation had extended its activity to other provinces and had branches in several locations across the country. The group leader had two outstanding search, appearance and arrest warrants issued by a Pontevedra court.
The four arrested individuals are charged with armed robbery using a firearm, unlawful possession of weapons, grievous bodily harm, offences against public health, electricity theft, usurpation of functions and membership of a criminal organisation. This morning they were brought before the courts.
Source: ABC