Four men, aged between 24 and 62, were arrested in Figueres and Cabanes, Alt Empordà, on 9 April 2026. They are accused of kidnapping a man in December 2025, beating him, and demanding a €60,000 ransom, according to Catalan police.
The victim was initially held against his will on 8 and 9 December 2025 at a property in an Alt Empordà orchard. There, he was intimidated and beaten by his captors, who demanded €60,000 for his release. The kidnappers then moved the man to a village in France, near the Belgian border, where he remained until his family paid part of the ransom.
Days later, the victim was released with a promise to pay the remaining money. However, the alleged kidnappers continued to extort him, making threatening calls from various phone lines to demand the outstanding debt.
International Police Cooperation Leads to Arrests
The victim reported the incident to the Mossos d'Esquadra on 3 February 2026, prompting an investigation. Through police work and international cooperation, the Mossos identified the alleged kidnappers. These individuals live in France but travel to Catalonia monthly, officials said.
The arrests on 9 April involved a complex operation with the participation of the Special Intervention Group (GEI) and the Regional Area of Operational Resources (ARRO), among other specialised units. The four arrested men have police records and were born outside Catalonia, although their nationalities have not been released by Catalan police.
They face charges of kidnapping, assault, extortion, degrading treatment, and revealing secrets. The motive for the kidnapping has not been disclosed. During the arrests, Mossos d'Esquadra officers searched the agricultural property where the victim was first held and seized several items potentially linked to the crime. Investigators have not closed the case and do not rule out further arrests.
