Lorraine Williamson
A planned gangland assassination in Málaga has been prevented after a joint operation involving Spain’s National Police, Europol, and Swedish authorities.
Six people, including a minor, were arrested in connection with the conspiracy, which investigators believe was orchestrated by a Swedish criminal organisation already under scrutiny for large-scale drug trafficking.
Arrests within 48 hours
The case began on 29 June, when intelligence shared by Swedish police and Europol revealed two young men had flown from Gothenburg to Málaga. Spanish officers tracked them down within 48 hours, intercepting them at midnight as they travelled along the city’s seafront on an electric scooter. Both wore dark clothing, masks and balaclavas, and were believed to be on their way to carry out a killing.
One of the suspects, a minor, has been sent to a secure youth facility. The adult appeared before a judge and has been remanded in custody.
Weapons, phones and encrypted messages
Searches at a property in Fuengirola where the pair had been staying uncovered two loaded handguns with their serial numbers removed. Further raids in Málaga and Fuengirola led to the seizure of another firearm, ammunition, gloves, masks, cash, 15 mobile phones, 16 SIM cards, encrypted communication devices, and handwritten notes.
Police say the gang provided the would-be killers with a safe house, weapons, and even the scooter they were riding when caught. Investigators discovered that the group used encrypted platforms and social media to offer payments in exchange for carrying out contract killings.
Swedish gang networks in Spain
The four additional suspects detained include the alleged ringleader of the group. All face charges of conspiracy to murder, illegal possession of firearms, and membership of a criminal organisation.
Spain has become a hotspot for Scandinavian gangs, who use the Costa del Sol as a base for drug trafficking operations. Rivalries often spill over into violence, with recent years seeing several shootings linked to Nordic groups operating between Marbella, Málaga, and Fuengirola.
Stronger cross-border action
This latest operation underlines the increasing collaboration between Spanish police and their European counterparts. Moreover, investigators warn that the use of teenagers in organised crime is a growing trend, with gangs recruiting minors as expendable “soldiers” for high-risk missions.
Authorities say the arrests in Málaga prevented what could have been another deadly chapter in the ongoing battle between international drug cartels vying for control on Spain’s southern coast.
Deadly Fuengirola shootings deepens Costa del Sol crime concerns