Spanish police arrest 34 in luxury watch theft crackdown

Spanish National Police, in collaboration with the Italian Polizia di Stato, have arrested 34 individuals belonging to itinerant criminal organizations specialized in stealing luxury watches. The operation targeted high-end tourist destinations, specifically Ibiza and the Costa del Sol, during the summer season.

Authorities have clarified 28 violent robberies committed by eight different groups. The investigation identified Dénia as a strategic maritime point used by criminals to escape. Among the arrests, officers intercepted members at Ibiza airport attempting to flee with a luxury watch valued at over 450,000 euros. Other incidents included a theft outside a nightclub and the capture of fugitives wanted for a violent robbery in Madrid.

Recovered items include six prestigious watches valued between 20,000 and 450,000 euros. Seized evidence also consists of five vehicles, 14 fraudulent license plates, a frequency jammer, and various false identity documents. The criminal cells operated with a strict division of labor, utilizing scouts to locate victims, executors to perform the thefts, and motorcycle drivers for rapid escapes.