Con artists who pursued tourists arrested in Spain

Spanish police destroyed two criminal gangs in the last week, one of which preyed specifically on visitors to the country.

Tourists in Barcelona were left open to being conned by a band of criminals who were posing as police officers.  A similar type of operation was being run in Madrid.

The thieves in Barcelona were revealed to be of Iranian and Pakistani origins. Under the guise of searching for drugs or counterfeit currency, they would stop tourists and demand identification or perform searches during which they snatched valuables such as cash, watches and smartphones, according to the regional Catalan police.

The con men struck predominately around airports and hotels.

Drivers were not immune as gang members which false insignia on their cars targeted foreign licence plates, convincing drivers to pull over where the visitors were robbed of valuable possessions.

"The hoax could only be carried out on foreigners because anyone who lives here would understand they were not police officers from the way they behaved," police inspector Jordi Olle told a news conference.

Last week eight suspected members of the crime syndicate were apprehended in the Barcelona and Valencia areas.  Officers seized jewellery and watches, electronic goods and some €5,000 in cash.

Earlier this week, officers arrested a further nine suspects in Madrid, also carrying Iranian and Pakistani passports.

Catalan police said members of the criminal gang had fanned out across Spain.   

At least 21 criminal incidents are attributed to the gang although police believe that the real number is higher.

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