Ukrainian weapons trafficker arrested in Alicante with international arrest warrant
A 49-year-old Ukrainian arms dealer has been arrested at Alicante-Elche airport after arriving from Slovakia. He had been wanted for arms and ammunition trafficking since 2022.
Arrest of arms trafficker in Alicante
According to The Olive Press, the National Police have detained a 49-year-old Ukrainian citizen at Alicante-Elche airport after disembarking from a flight from Bratislava. The man was the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by Ukrainian authorities in August.
Ukrainian authorities accused him of crimes against public order and security, as well as illegal trafficking of arms, ammunition and explosives. The charges date back to 2022 in the Zakarpattia region, when the man acquired 60 cartridges of 7.62 millimetres. On 18 March of that year, he was travelling as a passenger in a vehicle transporting the ammunition concealed in a pair of spare boots.
The following day, Ukrainian police intercepted the car in the town of Volovets and confiscated the 60 cartridges. Subsequent investigations revealed a pattern of concealing ammunition during searches by local authorities.
The National Police have placed the fugitive at the disposal of the National Court in Madrid. The court will now decide on the extradition request submitted by Ukraine.
Source: The Olive Press