In Alicante, a criminal group that specialised in robberies at pharmacies and banks has been dismantled

In the provinces of Alicante, Valencia, and Murcia, the Guardia Civil and the National Police have dismantled a criminal organisation that specialised in the burglary of pharmacies, banks, and businesses as part of Operation Farmacash-Botica. The operation led to the apprehension of six individuals and the confiscation of specialised tools, cash, and vehicles that were used in the robberies.

A criminal organisation that is structured and professional in nature

The Guardia Civil and the National Police initiated a joint investigation in August 2024 in response to an increase in robberies at pharmacies, particularly in El Campello, Playa de San Juan, and Marina Alta. The burglaries were executed with remarkable speed and precision: the perpetrators forced open doors, tore open cash registers or safes, and fled in high-end vehicles with modified license plates.

The criminal network, which was composed of individuals with a variety of criminal histories, maintained a rigid division of labour. Some members were responsible for the robbery itself, while others served as security personnel, employing shuttle vehicles. Others provided escape vehicles, which were previously stolen automobiles.

Concurrent arrests and confiscation of property

A total of seven residence searches were conducted in Orihuela, Torrevieja, Benidorm, Villajoyosa, and Dénia after months of investigation, resulting in the arrest of six members of the organisation. In the course of the searches, €7,000 in cash, a blank-firing pistol, clothing utilised in the burglaries, bolt cutters and other lock-picking tools, GPS tracking beacons, walkie-talkies, an OBD key-cloning machine, an Italian Police tactical vest, and five vehicles utilised in the crimes were seized.

The investigation was conducted by the Assets Team of the Patrimonio de la Unidad Orgánica de Policía Judicial (UOPJ) of Alicante, the Equipo Contra el Crimen Organizado based in Alicante (ECO Levante) la Unidad Central Operativa (UCO) and the Unidad de Delincuencia Especializada y Violenta (UDEV) of the National Police of Alicante. The Judicial Police Team of the Guardia Civil of San Juan and the Guardia Civil and Local Police of El Campello also collaborated.

Albanian, Kosovar, Bulgarian, and Yugoslav nationalities are represented among the detainees, who possess extensive criminal histories in Spain. One of them is prohibited from entering the country, while the other has a history of homicide in Ukraine. They have been charged with 42 counts of burglary, larceny with violence, organised crime, and document falsification. They have been hauled before Investigating Court No. 3 of Elche, which has ordered their imprisonment.