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Date Published: 31/03/2025

Fugitive linked to Russian mafia arrested in Torrevieja

Criminal caught using fake Romanian passport at a hotel

A man sentenced to 11 years in prison for mafia-related crimes in Italy has been arrested by the Guardia Civil in Torrevieja. The 37-year-old Moldovan national had been hiding out in Spain under a false identity and was caught trying to use a high-quality fake Romanian passport.

The arrest happened on Wednesday February 28 during a routine patrol in the coastal town. Officers saw three men sitting on a restaurant terrace and became suspicious when one of them attempted to conceal himself when he spotted the police. This made the officers curious, so they decided to question him, at which point he presented the forged Romanian passport.

After carrying out technical checks, police confirmed the document was fake. The suspect was taken into custody, and fingerprint analysis revealed his true identity. Italian authorities had been searching for him since 2022, when the Verona Criminal Court sentenced him to 11 years in prison for being part of an international mafia organization.

The group, led by a "vor v zakone" (thief in law), was involved in violent crimes that intimidated both people and businesses. Since his sentencing, the fugitive had been living under the radar in Spain, using fake documents to escape arrest.

Following his arrest, he appeared before a court in Torrevieja, where a judge ordered him to remain in custody while the extradition process to Italy gets underway. Meanwhile, the Guardia Civil continues its investigations to determine whether he has been involved in any criminal activities while in Spain.

Image: Guardia Civil/X(Twitter)

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