Spanish Police Dismantle €20 Million Mobile Phone VAT Fraud Ring

A major criminal network responsible for defrauding over €20 million in Value Added Tax (VAT) from mobile phone sales has been dismantled in a coordinated police operation across Spain. The operation, carried out by the Spanish Guardia Civil, involved 23 simultaneous raids in Málaga, Valencia, Madrid, Seville, Cádiz, and Barcelona, leading to the arrest of 15 individuals. "This was a complex investigation requiring meticulous planning and coordination," stated a Guardia Civil spokesperson. The scale of the operation is striking. Authorities seized 146 properties, more than 280 bank accounts, 9,000 mobile phones, over €200,000 in cash, and a significant amount of cryptocurrencies. The recovery of 75 vehicles further underscores the extent of the criminal network's activities. The successful dismantling of this organization sends a strong message about Spain's commitment to combating organized crime and protecting its financial system.