Ten people suspected of being responsible for thefts from Ukrainian refugees have been arrested, objects and money have been recovered for a value of around one million euros, police said.
The suspects, seven Ukrainians and three Russians, “
targeted this type of people who often have all their savings and valuables with them
,” the Guardia Civil said in a statement.
Stamp collection
Those arrested are suspected of having robbed seven homes of Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Spain after the Russian invasion and settled in the provinces of Alicante and Murcia (east) on the Mediterranean coast.
During their operation, the police forces seized objects worth 1.25 million euros, including a collection of stamps whose value is estimated at half a million euros, jewelry and computers.
The suspects had installed geolocation systems in the victims' vehicles in order to be able to follow their every movement.
Read also"It's already our third house": the daily life of Ukrainian refugees in France
Spanish police announced in January that they had dismantled a network managing three tobacco factories in which Ukrainians who fled to Spain after the Russian invasion were exploited, "
crammed
" into makeshift accommodation.
Spain has taken in some 160,000 Ukrainian refugees since the invasion by Russian forces on February 24, 2022.