Spanish police arrest organiser of group defrauding pensioners in Barcelona
A 24-year-old man wanted for activity in an organised criminal group was detained in Spain. The man allegedly coordinated "grandparent scam" fraud across Poland. Officers secured his luxury car worth over one million zlotys.
Spanish police arrest organiser of group defrauding pensioners in Barcelona
Joint operations by Polish and Spanish services led to the detention of a 24-year-old man in Barcelona. He had been in hiding abroad for a prolonged period, evading legal consequences for his involvement in an organised criminal group.
The man was on the list of persons sought by arrest warrant and European Arrest Warrant. According to investigative findings, he held one of the key positions within the gang's structure—he supervised the work of organisation members across the entire country, distributed tasks and issued directives. In the criminal hierarchy, he was positioned directly below so-called "telephonists", the individuals making direct contact with victims.
After the arrest warrant was issued in August of the previous year, he left Polish territory. He stayed, among other places, in Hungary and other European Union countries. According to investigators, despite being abroad, he continued to manage the gang's activities. The European Arrest Warrant was issued in late 2025.
A breakthrough in the case came on 10 June, when officers obtained information about the suspect's whereabouts in Barcelona. Because the man frequently changed location, immediate action was necessary. The liaison officer of Polish police in Spain passed the data to the local services, which carried out the detention the next day.
Investigators established that the suspect maintained a very luxurious lifestyle. He stayed in expensive hotels, travelled in exclusive cars and controlled funds derived from illegal activity. The primary victims of the fraudsters were elderly people who were persuaded they were helping relatives in difficult situations. As a result, they often lost their entire life savings.
On Tuesday, 16 June, officers found a Ferrari 458 belonging to the detained man in an underground car park of one of Kraków's hotels. It was valued at an amount exceeding one million zlotys. The vehicle was seized as financial security towards future penalties.
Currently, the 24-year-old is in custody in Spain awaiting a decision regarding his extradition to Polish authorities. The entire proceedings are overseen by the District Prosecutor's Office in Tarnów. To date, 63 people have been detained as part of this investigation, with 52 placed in temporary custody.
More details at mamNewsa.pl.
Source: Google News PL