Mass arrests in police swoop on pickpockets in Mallorca capital Palma

Woman In Serious Condition After Fall From Balcony In Palma

CREDIT: Policia Nacional Twitter @policia

POLICE in Palma have made 34 arrests in a major swoop on an international network of pickpockets described as one of the biggest gangs of its kind in Europe.
Around 50 officers took part in 20 or so Tuesday morning raids in various districts of the city, including El Arenal, Coll d’en Rabassa, Aragon, Sa Vileta, Son Ferriol and the Joan Miro area, according to reports.
Spanish press said the operation was the result of a joint investigation involving the National Police Centre Station and the Organised Crime Group under the orders of the Organised Crime Drug Unit, with the collaboration of Palma Local Police and police forces from other countries.
Investigators believe the criminal network travelled to different cities in Spain and elsewhere in Europe to prey on tourists and rob them of personal items of value and cash. The gang is also accused of money laundering.
It was further reported that all the individuals detained in the Mallorca capital are Romanians, at least some of whom had based themselves on the island for the summer months to take advantage of the peak visitor season.

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Cathy Elelman

Cathy Elelman is the local writer for the Costa de Almeria edition of the Euro Weekly News.

Based in Mojacar for the last 21 years, Cathy is very much part of the local community and is always well and truly up on all the latest news and events going on in this region of Spain.

Her top goals are to do the best job she can informing the local English-speaking community, visitors to the area and the wider world about about the news in Almeria, to learn something new every day, and to embrace very new challenge this fast-changing world brings her way.

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