'Operation Emperor': 83 arrests, 108 properties searched and over 11,600,000 euros in cash seized

So far, 83 arrests have been made, 108 properties have been searched since the early hours of Tuesday morning, some 11,600,000 euros in cash have been seized (9,500,000 euros in the last two days alone), weapons, jewellery and works of art have been seized, as well as numerous banking and company documents on paper and electronic devices. Ignacio Cosidó underlined the importance of this operation to combat economic crime that has uncovered a criminal network laundering some 160 million euros a year.

More than 500 National Police Force officers from the General Commissariats of the Judicial Police, Immigration and Border Control, Citizen Security and the Forensic Police, as well as police officers from various Police Headquarters, the Special Operations Group and the Sub-directorate of Logistics continue to make arrests and carry out searches all over Spain. 83 arrests have been made so far; 66 in Madrid, 17 in other Spanish provinces and 1 in Hamburg. Of all those arrested, 58 are of Chinese nationality, 17 are Spanish and 8 are of other nationalities.

The complexity and size of the police operation also required collaboration from 60 members of the Spanish Tax Office and a large number of court clerks for all the property searches to be carried out. Police officers from OCN INTERPOL España and three members of the office in Lyon are also involved in the operation.

The individuals arrested are accused of offences related to belonging to a criminal organisation, money laundering, document forgery, offences against the Public Treasury, threats, offences against workers' rights and bribery, among other things.

The operation is being run by Criminal Investigation Court Number 4 of the Spanish National High Court and is the final stage of an exhaustive investigation coordinated by the Special Public Prosecution Service against Corruption and Organised Crime.

The operational instructions, issued by the Judicial Authority, include the arrest of some 110 people in total, the search of 124 properties and the seizure of banking products, assets, vehicles and belongings from 122 individuals and 235 legal entities. These instructions will continue to be enforced over the coming days.