The National Police have arrested a 23-year-old man as the suspected perpetrator of robbery with violence and fraud following an investigation that began with the assault of a foreign tourist in Playa del Inglés and the subsequent theft of 33.000 USDT in cryptocurrency. The investigation also uncovered the existence of an organized group specializing in these types of crimes in various Spanish tourist areas.
The incident occurred in the early hours of December 31st, when the victim was at a popular shopping and nightlife center in Playa del Inglés . According to the police investigation, two young men approached the tourist and began talking to him. At one point, they snatched his mobile phone from his hands, and one of them kicked him. Afterward, both quickly left the scene.
Minutes later, once the tourist was back at his hotel, he accessed his laptop to try to block the stolen phone. It was then that he checked his email and saw that all his cryptocurrency funds had been transferred: 33.000 USDT had been sent to a private wallet.
Following the report, agents of the National Police launched an investigation to trace the digital assets and identify the individuals involved in their movement. The investigation determined that the money had passed through various cryptocurrency exchange platforms and that some of it was subsequently converted into euros.
The investigators were able to link the stolen funds to the main suspect and detected numerous subsequent payments made in food, leisure and travel establishments in Alicante and Madrid.
A group specializing in stealing cryptocurrencies
During the investigation, the agents detected the existence of an organized group related to robberies committed in tourist areas of Valencia, Malaga, Playa del Inglés and the south of Tenerife, specializing in the theft of cryptocurrencies.
According to police investigations, the members of the group resorted to violence in some cases and, in others, allegedly used substances added to the victims' drinks in order to diminish or nullify their will.
The investigation led to the location of the main suspect, who was arrested upon arrival at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport on a flight from France. In addition, a 30-year-old woman is being investigated for her alleged involvement with the suspect in the transfer of digital assets.
The investigation was carried out by agents of the UDEF of the Provincial Brigade of Judicial Police of Las Palmas, while the arrest was made by Judicial Police officers of the Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández airport.
The detainee was brought before the competent judicial authority in Alicante. The investigation remains under the jurisdiction of the courts in San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
