The Civil Guard and the National Police have dismantled a criminal group specializing in burglaries of pharmacies, banks, and businesses in the provinces of Alicante, Murcia, and Valencia. The operation, dubbed Farmacash-Botica, resulted in the arrest of six people and the seizure of cash, tools used in the robberies, and several vehicles used in the crimes.
The investigation began in August 2024 after an increase in pharmacy robberies was detected, particularly in the Marina Alta, El Campello, and Playa de San Juan. The gang operated with speed and precision: they forced open doors, ripped out cash registers or safes, and fled in high-end vehicles with false license plates.
The criminals, with extensive criminal records, operated with a strict division of labor. While some carried out the robberies, others provided security with shuttle vehicles or provided the necessary logistics, including previously stolen cars.
After months of investigation and thanks to the coordination between the police forces, seven house searches were carried out in Orihuela, Torrevieja, Benidorm, Villajoyosa and DéniaAs a result, six members of the organization were arrested, and €7.000 in cash, a blank-firing pistol, clothing used in the robberies, bolt cutters, lock-picking tools, GPS tracking beacons and walkie-talkies, as well as an OBD machine for cloning vehicle keys, were seized. An Italian Police tactical vest and five vehicles used in the robberies were also found.
The investigation was led by the Assets Team of the Organic Unit of the Judicial Police (UOPJ) of Alicante, the Anti-Organized Crime Team based in Alicante (ECO Levante) of the Central Operational Unit (UCO), and the Specialized and Violent Crime Unit (UDEV) of the Alicante National Police, with the collaboration of other local units.
The detainees, of Albanian, Kosovar, Bulgarian, and Yugoslav nationality, had extensive criminal records in Spain. One of them was banned from entering the country, while another had a record for murder in Ukraine.
Those arrested are charged with 42 crimes, including burglary, robbery with violence, organized crime, and document falsification. Elche's Investigative Court No. 3 has ordered the ringleader and his four main collaborators to be imprisoned.
