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A shocking case that began with a violent break-in in Mijas last spring has now led to nine people being identified and linked to a criminal gang targeting cryptocurrency holders, according to the Policía Nacional. Officers say the group was behind the kidnapping and murder of a man who was assaulted alongside his partner while the attackers tried to force their way into the couple’s digital wallets.

 

The investigation began after the armed assault, which took place in April when three or four masked individuals broke into the couple’s home. The victim tried to escape but was shot in the leg before being overpowered. Both he and his partner were bundled into a vehicle and taken to a house where they were held for hours. Officers explained that the kidnappers’ intention was “to gain access to the couple’s cryptocurrency accounts and empty them”.

 

Although the woman was released around midnight, her partner remained missing until his body was later found in a wooded area of Mijas. Police confirmed that he showed clear signs of violence in addition to the gunshot wound he had suffered during the attack.

 

As the investigation unfolded, officers traced the movements of the group and eventually linked several individuals to the house where the victims were held. A spokesperson from the Policía Nacional said the case had been “complex and multinational”, adding that cooperation with Danish authorities proved crucial. Two of the four suspects charged in Denmark are already in prison there for similar offences.

 

Six properties in Madrid and Málaga were searched during the operation, which helped piece together the final stages of the crime. Officers recovered two firearms, one real and one a replica, as well as an expandable baton, clothing stained with blood and a balaclava believed to have been used during the assault. Mobile phones, electronic devices and documents described as “relevant to the case” were also seized.

 

Police say the arrests in Spain, combined with the charges brought in Denmark, have effectively dismantled the network involved. The investigation remains open as officers continue to work through the material recovered during the searches.

 

Image: Policía Nacional