Soria town hall raid arrests six officials in corruption probe

Spain’s Guardia Civil seized six people in a corruption investigation focused on the Soria municipal council, which has been governed by the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) for nearly two decades. The operation, lasting about 12 hours, detained four suspects in Soria province and two in the Madrid region, among them local tourism and commerce councillor Yolanda Santos and her husband. The council suspended Santos’ duties, the PSOE branch asked to freeze her membership and opened an internal inquiry.

The raid, ordered by Soria’s investigating court number 3 and the provincial prosecutor, searched council premises and two private homes. Authorities are probing alleged influence‑peddling, administrative malpractice, document forgery, money‑laundering and membership of a criminal organisation, with particular scrutiny on contracts awarded to Biosfera Soria, an environmental‑education firm co‑founded by Santos. Proceedings are sealed.

Earlier, the court had sent a confidential notice to the mayor warning of a possible search, without specifying details. The notification sparked complaints from opposition parties PP and Vox, while PSOE regional leader Carlos Martínez denied any prior knowledge. The scandal adds to a series of graft investigations shadowing Spain’s coalition government.