Five Arrested and Five Pistols Seized in Alicante Extortion Probe

Spain's National Police have made arrests and seized weapons as part of an investigation into a suspected criminal group accused of using firearms to threaten and extort victims in Alicante. The probe began after an incident in May where two men allegedly threatened a worker at a garage. The suspects entered the garage, demanded to see the owner and his relative, and one of them loaded a pistol while questioning an employee, causing fear of imminent violence. Although no one was injured, the incident prompted police to launch a full investigation.

Following the initial inquiry, officers discovered a two-meter-deep pit in a rural area near Alicante, believed to be dug by the suspects. The purpose of the pit remains unclear. During their search, police found five fully functional pistols, magazines, ammunition, €6,460 in cash, 500 grams of cannabis, and additional items such as GPS trackers, signal jammers, balaclavas, and clothing with National Police markings.

The five suspects, aged between 40 and 71, are currently facing charges related to weapons offenses, serious threats, drug trafficking, and membership of a criminal group. Four suspects were apprehended at the property and appeared before a court in Llíria, while the fifth suspect, who was already serving a prison sentence with temporary release options, was brought before a court in Picassent. The investigation remains ongoing, with the possibility of further arrests and searches.