Catalonia police investigate surge in violent kidnappings

Catalan police, the Mossos d'Esquadra, are investigating a surge in violent kidnappings across the region, including a high-profile incident on the AP-7 highway near Barcelona. On Saturday, September 19, five masked men wearing fake police vests intercepted a vehicle and forcibly abducted a man in broad daylight. The victim, who was later found with bruises but without serious injuries, was released several hours later.

This incident marks the third kidnapping in Catalonia in less than two weeks. Previous cases include a man forced into a car in the Sant Martí de Provençals neighborhood of Barcelona, and a motorcyclist shot and abducted in Gavà on September 8.

Authorities believe these actions may be linked to the growing drug trade in the region rather than ransom demands. Investigators are treating the cases as illegal detentions and potential settlements of criminal accounts. In the AP-7 case, police recovered ammunition, handcuffs, and zip ties from the victim's vehicle.