76 people have been arrested in Spain

76 people have been arrested in Spain in connection with an international operation against a gang which cloned credit cards which has seen as many as 178 arrests in 14 countries.
It’s estimated the gang could have made profits of more than 20 million €.

84 searches have been carried out in Spain and 11 laboratories where the cards were cloned have been uncovered. Also found were 30 replacement card inserts to be placed over cash dispenser machines.
The investigation started in Valencia where one of the bosses of the gang has also been arrested by the National Police.

The same gang also carried out violent robberies, frauds and extortions, sexual abuse and exploitation and money laundering.

The other arrests were carried out in Romania (16), France (30), Italy (7), Germany (16), Ireland (12), United States (8), Australia (2), Sweden (2), Greece (2), Finland (3), and Hungary (4). Each country had its own mini-structure of the gang.

Most of those in the gang were unaware who they were working for, and those who had information did not want to collaborate with the police, fearing reprisals against them or their families.