Man arrested for holding victim captive in Finestrat to steal cryptocurrency and jewellery

A 29-year-old man has been arrested by the Guardia Civil in Gipuzkoa for detaining and assaulting a man in an apartment in Finestrat to force him to hand over cash and gold and to transfer cryptocurrency. The man reportedly acted alongside a woman who was arrested in Barcelona.

The detainees have been charged with illegal detention, robbery with violence, and membership of a criminal group. The investigation remains open and further actions have not been ruled out.

The investigation, carried out as part of Operation “Coyars”, was launched following a complaint filed by the victim, who was ambushed inside the apartment he was renting in the town.

Once inside, he was tied hand and foot and subjected to hours of assault and extreme violence, all aimed at forcing him to yield cash, gold, and cryptocurrency transfers. The stolen assets are valued at around 20,000 euro.

During the enquiry, officers gathered a large amount of information for analysis, revealing a pattern that led to a woman who had built up the victim’s trust months prior to the incident. Through her, investigators were able to locate the alleged leader and organiser of the group.

The arrests were carried out rapidly after evidence emerged that one of the suspects might leave the country. This situation prompted a coordinated operation allowing both suspects to be arrested simultaneously in the provinces of Barcelona and Gipuzkoa.

The 29-year-old man was placed at the disposal of the duty court in San Sebastian, which ordered his provisional imprisonment. The woman, who allegedly gained the victim’s trust, was brought before the duty court in Martorell, which ordered her release with precautionary measures.

The operation was conducted by the Judicial Police Territorial Team of Villajoyosa and investigated by the relevant Instruction Section of the Instantiation Court of Benidorm, with collaboration from the Heritage Section of the Organic Unit of the Judicial Police of the Alicante Command and the Commands of Barcelona and Gipuzkoa.