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Spain’s National Police Dismantle Violent Crypto-Robbery Ring Linked to Tren de Aragua

Police have arrested six people believed to be connected to the Tren de Aragua gang. They are suspected of carrying out several violent robberies, specifically targeting people with valuable jewelry and cryptocurrency. In some instances, the victims were tied up and threatened with guns.

  • Key Takeaways:

  • Spain’s National Police caught 6 Tren de Aragua members over a €1.3M crypto theft, with 3 jailed next.
  • Harming market safety, Tren de Aragua stole €1.3M in crypto, forcing Spain to next prosecute 6 suspects.
  • Following 2024 OFAC crypto sanctions, the US labeled Tren de Aragua an FTO to next block global laundering.

Spain’s National Police cracks down on Tren de Aragua-linked criminal group

Spain’s National Police have dismantled an organization that targeted high-profile individuals holding jewels, cash, and cryptocurrency.

On Thursday, the police revealed the arrest of 6 individuals who were allegedly part of this organization, which had ties to the Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua. National Police started an investigation into this group in August 2025, examining a house theft in Madrid. In this instance, €1.5 million in jewels and watches and €1.3 million in cryptocurrency were stolen.

Some of the individuals, already in police custody, were involved in similar thefts, where victims were tied, gagged, and held at gunpoint to force them to give up their crypto and fiat money holdings, using continued violence as a tool to achieve these purposes.

Based on the police report, there was at least one instance where the victim fought back, and during that struggle, a shot was fired, seriously endangering their life. As an analyst, I’m noting the escalation of force in this situation.

Investigators reported that the group began by researching potential targets, focusing on prominent people. These individuals were then watched closely and eventually tricked into meeting at vacation rentals under various pretenses.

The group is accused of serious crimes, including being part of a criminal organization, robbery, false imprisonment, fraud, and endangering public health. Three members have already been sentenced to prison.

Tren de Aragua, a criminal organization of Venezuelan origins, has been singled out for integrating cryptocurrency as part of its criminal tools, including crypto theft and crypto money laundering in its illicit activity portfolio.

The U.S. Department of State labeled Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in February 2025. In 2024, it was sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for laundering funds through cryptocurrency.

In July, Chilean authorities also dismantled a group called “Tren del Mar,” which had laundered more than $13.5 million. This group operated using methods similar to those employed by organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel.

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2026-05-30 06:57