Spanish Police Dismantle Criminal Ring Targeting Tourists for Cryptocurrency
Spanish police have dismantled a criminal network that used physical violence and drugging to steal cryptocurrency from tourists, following the arrest of a suspect linked to a 33,000 USDT theft in Gran Canaria.
Cybercrime in Spanish tourist hotspots has taken a dangerous turn, with criminals now using physical violence to steal digital assets. Police in Las Palmas recently dismantled a criminal ring following the arrest of a 23-year-old man accused of targeting tourists to steal their cryptocurrency.
The investigation, currently underway in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, began after a New Year’s Eve incident in Playa del Inglés. A foreign tourist was attacked by two men who stole his mobile phone. The thieves then used the device to access the victim’s digital accounts, draining 33,000 USDT—a cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar—into their own private wallet.
Police tracked the stolen funds through various exchange platforms, discovering that the money was converted into euros and spent in Madrid and Alicante. This digital trail helped investigators identify the main suspect and uncover a wider criminal network. According to police, the group operates in popular tourist areas like Valencia, Málaga, and southern Tenerife, using both physical force and drugging victims to gain access to their accounts.
The 23-year-old suspect was arrested at Alicante-Elche Airport after arriving on a flight from France. A 30-year-old woman is also under investigation for allegedly helping to manage and move the stolen funds.
This case highlights how organized crime groups in Spain are increasingly incorporating digital asset theft into their operations. While these criminals often rely on the perceived anonymity of digital currencies, this investigation proves that their financial footprint remains a vital tool for law enforcement. The suspect is currently in judicial custody in Alicante as police work to dismantle the rest of the network.