Armed Gang Dismantled After Violent €7,000 Cartagena Robbery

Three suspected members of an organized criminal gang have been arrested in Cartagena following a violent armed robbery. The operation, dubbed Operation Qruens, was initiated in response to the attack in May. The perpetrators allegedly assaulted, bound, and left a business owner bleeding on the floor after entering the premises with a firearm and a machete.

They fled with €7,000 in cash and the keys to the victim's car, which they used to escape. Investigators believe the attack's speed, coordination, and violence indicate an organized crime operation, not a random incident. Evidence also suggests the business was surveilled before the robbery. The stolen vehicle was recovered early in the investigation, and public tips helped establish the suspects' appearance, escape route, and other details.

Judicial Police specialists identified and arrested the alleged leader of the group, finding a revolver and ammunition linked to the robbery, as well as €3,000 in cash, drugs, and a cannabis-growing setup. Two additional suspects were apprehended in Valencia in a separate operation. All three arrested individuals, ranging in age from 40 to 73, face charges including violent robbery resulting in injury, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, illegal firearm possession, drug cultivation and trafficking, and membership in a criminal group.

The investigation remains active, with the possibility of further arrests or charges, as officers analyze the seized items to determine if the group was involved in additional crimes.