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Spain, Denmark Dismantle Cross‑Border Crypto Kidnapping Ring After Málaga Killing

The case highlights a shift toward physical coercion to steal digital assets.

Overview

  • Spanish police arrested five suspects and Danish authorities charged four more, with two of those already in prison for similar offenses.
  • Investigators say a Málaga couple was abducted in April in Mijas by masked gunmen seeking access to their cryptocurrency wallets.
  • The female victim was released, and the male victim was later found dead in a wooded area with signs of violence in addition to a gunshot wound.
  • Six raids in Madrid and Málaga recovered two handguns—one real and one fake—a baton, blood‑stained clothing, mobile devices, documents, and biological evidence.
  • Police describe the group as a transnational organization using violent “wrench attacks,” a tactic that Chainalysis reports has risen in 2025 with 35 incidents recorded by July.