The Mossos d’Esquadra have arrested two 19-year-old men for a violent Barcelona illegal detention and robbery. This incident, which police describe as a “night of terror” for the victims, occurred in the upscale Galvany district. Consequently, one victim was forcibly transported across the city to drain his bank accounts.
Investigators from the Sarrià Investigation Unit arrested the suspects, both residents of the Nou Barris district, last Friday. They now face charges of illegal detention, coercion, bodily harm, making threats, robbery with violence, and bank fraud.
Your browser does not support the video tag.Home » Barcelona Illegal Detention: Mossos Arrest Teens for Violent Robbery and Captivity
A Night Out Turned Violent
The events unfolded in the early hours of 7 December, shortly after 06:00. The victims, aged 22 and 26, were searching for food after a night out in the Galvany nightlife area. According to police sources, the pair were accosted near the intersection of Carrer de Muntaner and Travessera de Gràcia. A group of individuals then beat, threatened, and robbed them.
The assailants initially targeted the 26-year-old. They assaulted him and stripped him of his jacket before leaving him in the street. However, the situation escalated significantly for his younger friend. The group stole his phone, wallet, keys, ID, a necklace, and his AirPods. This detail later proved crucial to the investigation.
Forced Transport and Extortion
After forcing the younger victim to withdraw €300 from a nearby cash machine, the attackers hit his credit limit. Investigators believe the victim was then forced into a VTC (private hire) vehicle. The gang threatened to use his stolen keys to burgle his home if he resisted.
He was driven from the upper area of the city to Can Dragó, in the Porta neighbourhood of Nou Barris. During the journey and subsequent detention, he was coerced into calling his father to request an immediate transfer of funds.
Sources close to the inquiry state that the victim was forced to ask his father for an additional €350. He told his father he “could not explain why” but needed the money urgently. Once the transfer was complete and the cash withdrawn, the attackers released the young man. They left him undocumented and without a phone. However, they reportedly handed him a stolen metro card so he could make his way home.
Digital Trail Leads to Arrests
The investigation, led by the Sarrià Mossos d’Esquadra, utilised security footage from the initial crime scene and banking institutions. Crucially, the suspects continued to use the stolen bank card for small purchases in the days following the assault. This action left a clear digital trail. Meanwhile, the location of the stolen AirPods also assisted police in tracking the perpetrators.
Following their arrest two months after the incident, the two 19-year-olds appeared before Barcelona’s investigating court number 2 on 7 February. Despite having no prior criminal records, they were released with restraining orders preventing them from approaching the victims.
An Isolated Case
Guillem Tejero, head of the Mossos Investigation Unit, sought to reassure the public. He stated that this level of complexity and violence is rare. While robberies targeting young people leaving nightclubs are known to occur, the element of detention and forced transport is highly unusual. Nevertheless, it still contributes to Barcelona crime statistics.
“In the three years I’ve been here, I have never encountered a case with these characteristics.”Guillem Tejero, Mossos d’Esquadra Investigation Unit
Police clarified that while the incident resembles an “express kidnapping,” it is legally classified as illegal detention. This is because no ransom was demanded from a third party for the victim’s release. Therefore, the investigation remains open as police work to identify other individuals who may have been present during the initial assault.
Join Barcelona English Speakers WhatsApp Community .
