Sun, sand and suspects: Spain seduces fugitive criminals
From drug traffickers to sex offenders and cybercriminals, fugitives from around the globe flock to Spain's coastal havens.
That gamble rarely pays off: Police stress that their chances of evading justice are slim.
"We're arresting new people every day," said Fernando Gonzalez, the head of an elite Spanish police unit set up in 2004 to hunt down criminals on the run.
"Spain remains a very attractive place for traffickers," he added.
Last year, his unit arrested 460 fugitives -- mostly foreigners -- across Spain, up from 390 in 2023.
The pace has not slowed this year. Recent high-profile arrests underscore the European country's ongoing appeal to fugitives.
"We deal with a wide range of profiles," from major criminals to petty offenders, as well as a wide range of nationalities, Gonzalez said as he scanned the latest list of arrests, which included Moroccans, French nationals and a growing number of Latin Americans.
Spain's role as a haven for those trying to evade justice is "historic", a French investigator told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"It's not just a hideout for fugitives... it's also home to career criminals who operate between Morocco, Spain and France."
Criminal defence lawyer and former extradition judge Carlos Bautista said Spain's location "at the crossroads" of Europe, the Americas and Africa makes it a natural hiding spot for runaway criminals.
Gonzalez said fugitives can often easily find "contacts who can help" them among the large community of foreigners who live in Spain.
He cited as an example the case of a German woman who was arrested in the Balearic Islands where she had lived for years without speaking Spanish.
Most fugitives are found along Spain's Mediterranean coast where expat communities are concentrated.
Malaga and Marbella on the Costa del Sol, which has long been a popular destination for British expats and tourists, are top picks for criminals on the run, said Bautista.
Laying low on the coast does not guarantee safety -- these are regions with some of the highest arrest rates.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
10 hours ago
- IOL News
Liverpool man accused of football parade crash faces new charges
Members of the emergency services treat members of the public inside a Police cordon at the scene of an incident on Water Street, on the sidelines of an open-top bus victory parade for Liverpool's Premier League title win,. Photo: Darren Staples/AFP Image: Darren Staples/AFP A British man accused of driving his vehicle into crowds celebrating Liverpool's Premier League title win faces an additional 24 criminal charges, prosecutors revealed Thursday at his latest court hearing. Former British Marine Paul Doyle, 53, appeared tearful as he joined the hearing at Liverpool Crown Court via videolink from prison, when details of the new counts stemming from the May 26 incident emerged. Merseyside Police now say 134 people were injured when Doyle allegedly drove his Ford Galaxy Titanium into crowds who were leaving Liverpool's waterfront after a victory parade. The 31 charges in total now filed involve 29 victims, aged between six months and 77, the court heard. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Six relate to children including two babies – one aged six months at the time and one aged seven months – who were injured when the car hit people massed on Water street in the city centre. Supporters of the city's world-famous football team had thronged its streets to celebrate the club's record-equalling 20th English top-flight title when scenes of joy turned to horror. Doyle, a father-of-three from the Croxteth neighbourhood in the city, was initially charged with seven offences, including dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He now faces multiple additional counts under that and other charges, including 19 for attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, three of wounding with intent and one of affray. Doyle, wearing a grey T-shirt, did not enter any pleas during the 20-minute hearing, which several relatives of the victims and more than 20 members of the media attended. Judge Andrew Menary adjourned the case until September 4, when Doyle is expected to enter pleas. Earlier this year, a provisional trial date was fixed for November 24, with the case expected to last three to four weeks. AFP
IOL News
17 hours ago
- IOL News
Russia imposes curbs on WhatsApp, Telegram calls
Russian security services have frequently claimed that Ukraine was using the sites to recruit people or commit acts of sabotage in Russia. Image: Supplied Russia announced curbs on calls on the WhatsApp and Telegram messenger apps on Wednesday, saying that this was necessary to fight criminality, state media reported. "In order to combat criminals, measures are being taken to partially restrict calls on these foreign messaging apps (WhatsApp and Telegram)," communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said, as quoted by the RIA and TASS news agencies. The messenger apps have become "the main voice services used for fraud and extortion, and for involving Russian citizens in subversive and terrorist activities," the watchdog added. Russian security services have frequently claimed that Ukraine was using Telegram to recruit people or commit acts of sabotage in Russia. Moscow wants the messengers to provide access to data upon request from law enforcement, not only for fraud probes but also for investigating activities that Russia describes as terrorist ones. "Access to calls in foreign messengers will be restored after they start complying with Russian legislation," Russia's digital ministry said. In a statement sent to AFP, Telegram said it "actively combats misuse of its platform, including calls for sabotage or violence, as well as fraud" and removes "millions of pieces of harmful content every day". Since launching its offensive in Ukraine, Russia has drastically restricted press freedom and freedom of speech online. "WhatsApp is private, end-to-end encrypted, and defies government attempts to violate people's right to secure communication, which is why Russia is trying to block it from over 100 million Russian people," a spokesperson for Meta-owned WhatsApp told AFP. More than 100 million people in Russia use WhatsApp for messages and calls, and the platform is concerned that this is an effort to push them onto platforms more vulnerable to government surveillance, according to the spokesperson. AFP
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
South Africa slams US human rights report as ‘inaccurate and misleading'
South Africa's government has fiercely rejected a US report alleging racial targeting and extrajudicial killings, saying it is based on discredited sources and lacks context. Image: Peter Zay / AFP Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has expressed deep disappointment with the recent US State Department report on human rights in South Africa, calling it 'inaccurate and deeply flawed.' The report alleges that South Africa is moving towards land expropriation targeting Afrikaners and mistreating racial minorities, claims the South African government has strongly rejected. Lamola expressed 'profound disappointment' with the report. 'We find the report to be an inaccurate and deeply flawed account that fails to reflect the reality of our constitutional democracy,' said Chrispin Phiri, DIRCO spokesperson. He added that the report's reliance on 'a-contextual information and discredited accounts' is highly concerning. 'It cites an incident involving the deaths of farm workers and, despite the matter being actively adjudicated by our independent judiciary, misleadingly presents it as an extrajudicial killing,' said Phiri. 'This is not only premature but a fundamental distortion of the facts, as the individuals are formally arraigned before a court of law.' He also criticised how the report handled issues involving police conduct. 'Similarly, incidents of police using force are mentioned without acknowledging the robust processes in place, where institutions designed to protect our democracy are actively investigating whether due process was followed and if such force was warranted,' he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Phiri said South Africa operates a transparent system, where information is freely available from law enforcement agencies and Chapter 9 institutions, which are constitutionally mandated to protect and advance human rights. 'It is ironic that a report from a nation that has exited by the UN Human Rights Council and therefore no longer sees itself accountable in a multilateral peer review system would seek to produce one side fact free reports without any due process or engagement,' he said. 'This is particularly striking given the significant and documented concerns about human rights within the United States, including the treatment of refugees and breaches in due process by its own agencies, such as ICE.' Phiri contrasted the US report with a recent assessment from the United Nations Human Rights Office in Geneva, which he said it endorsed South Africa's land reform programme. 'This recognition from the UN's primary human rights body underscores the integrity of our legislative processes aimed at rectifying historical injustices in a constitutional and human-rights-based manner,' he said. He added that the government is compiling a set of documents that will be released to the public during the course of the week. 'A cursory reading of reports from the South African Human Rights Commission and the UN Human Rights Council, as well as articles from reputable news agencies like the AFP serve to correct the distortions and set the record straight on South Africa's unwavering commitment to human rights.' The US report alleged multiple instances where the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. 'In July the provincial police commissioner confirmed that as of April, police shot and killed at least 40 criminal suspects in shoot-outs. On September 2, police reported six suspects wanted for homicide and extortion were shot and killed by Durban police in a shoot-out,' it said. It further referenced a January report from the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on the 2021 unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, which resulted in the deaths of 337 people and the arrest of 3,400 others. According to the report, the SAHRC found the government and police shortcomings in intelligence sharing and described the South African Police Service as 'ill-prepared to deal with orchestrated attacks'. Another incident cited involved the shooting deaths of two Black women on a Limpopo farm. 'It noted government and police shortcomings in sharing intelligence to prevent escalation of violence and described the South African Police Service (SAPS) as 'ill-prepared to deal with orchestrated attacks'. It further said that the SAHRC reported that on August 30, two Black women, ages 45 and 35, were shot and killed at a farm in Limpopo. 'According to the SAHRC, a swineherd and two employees were arrested and appeared in court on charges of killing the women. The victims were allegedly shot and killed and their remains fed to the swineherd's pigs.' The report went on to allege that according to data compiled by Agence France-Presse (AFP), there were 447 murders on farms and smallholdings between October 2023 and September 2024. It also alleged that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) encouraged violence against Afrikaner farmers by reviving the controversial song 'Kill the Boer (Farmer)' at its rallies and otherwise inciting violence. However, EFF leader Julius Malema has since vowed to continue singing the song after the Constitutional Court ruled that it does not incite violence, hate speech or promote killings of white farmers. The report also claimed that refugee advocacy organisations have said that police and immigration officials physically abused refugees and asylum seekers. 'Violence against migrants, including asylum seekers and refugees, was a continuing problem across the country. Those targeted often owned or managed small, informal grocery stores in economically marginalised areas that lacked government services,' the report said. However, the South African government has vehemently denied all the claims, calling them misleading. IOL Politics
