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Spanish police arrested 34 people in an operation spanning Sevilla, Madrid, Málaga and Barcelona, according to Spain’s Ministry of the Interior. The ministry alleges the network was linked to Black Axe and used cyberfraud, primarily a Man-in-the-Middle scam. The arrests and allegations are not convictions; the ministry said its investigation remained open when it announced the operation on 9 January 2026.
What happened in Spain’s Black Axe operation?
Spain’s National Police conducted the operation with investigators from Bavaria’s state police and support from Europol. The Ministry of the Interior described the target as a criminal network allegedly devoted to cyberfraud and linked to Black Axe. Europa Press also reported the 34 arrests and the operation’s four-city scope.
The ministry reported this arrest breakdown:
| City | Arrests reported by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior |
|---|---|
| Sevilla | 28 |
| Madrid | 3 |
| Málaga | 2 |
| Barcelona | 1 |
The ministry said alleged leaders based in Sevilla, Málaga and Barcelona were among those arrested. It reported that four principal suspects were placed in provisional detention.
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What methods and offenses did authorities allege?
The ministry said the network primarily used a Man-in-the-Middle scam, a form of cyberfraud in which a criminal intercepts or manipulates communications between parties to facilitate theft. It also listed alleged offenses including aggravated continuing fraud, membership in a criminal organization, money laundering, document forgery and obstruction of justice, among others.
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These are allegations described by the ministry, not findings of guilt. The announcement does not establish that any particular suspect committed an offense.
What financial figures and seizures did the ministry report?
The ministry attributed €5,937,589.70 in alleged total fraud to the network’s activity, which it said had been established for more than 15 years. It said €3,211,297.89 related to this operation. Both the duration and loss amounts are investigative assertions reported by the ministry, not court findings or adjudicated damages.
The ministry also reported that authorities seized more than €66,000 in cash and five vehicles, and froze nearly €120,000 in bank funds.
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In its 9 January 2026 announcement, the Ministry of the Interior said the investigation remained open. Four principal suspects were reported to be in provisional detention; that is a procedural status, not a conviction. The announcement does not establish any later case outcome.
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