Europol has announced the arrest of 28 members of a criminal group from Armenia and Georgia.

According to the respective statement, Europol was assisted by the French police and the Spanish police in dismantling a criminal network of "thieves in law" involved in serious property crimes, racketeering, extortion, and money laundering.

During the investigation, it was found that this criminal network engaged in theft and sale of stolen goods, cigarette smuggling, and money laundering.

Since November 2020, French police have been investigating individuals suspected of belonging to the "thieves in law" criminal organization. The investigation revealed an Armenian criminal organization operating in France and Spain, and headed by a "thief in law" in Spain.

Money laundering in Spain was mainly carried out through car mechanics and an imported caviar shop in Barcelona.

During a series of operations in France and Spain, 38 house searches were carried out, and 28 arrests were made, including the main "thief in law," whose name, however, is not mentioned.

A total of 16 luxury watches, 8 cars, 6 weapons with ammunition, 1 bulletproof vest, 2 GPS tracking devices, more than 60,000 euros in cash, numerous mobile phones and electronic devices, as well as various paraphernalia of "thieves in law" were seized.

The head of this criminal network was previously wanted for attempted murder.