The Civil Guard in the Region of Murcia has revealed a criminal organisation specialising in Sextortion as part of operation Licey. This has led to the investigation of two individuals as suspected perpetrators of extortion, money laundering, and membership within the criminal group.
The inquiry commenced in July 2024 when a man reported in Mazarrón (Murcia) that he had been receiving a series of threatening messages and calls from someone claiming to be the head of hired assassins and a dating service, according to statements from the Guardia Civil.
The victim had accessed a contact website featuring advertising for escort services. Following this, the threatening calls and messages began, warning that they would make his online activities public. Consequently, the extortionists coerced him into paying 3,000 euros.
The Civil Guard traced the money flow, which was initially directed to various bank accounts operated by economic mules, ultimately leading to the identification of the individual to whom the funds were eventually transferred.
After several months of investigation, the Civil Guard identified two men residing in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, who are being investigated as alleged offenders of extortion, money laundering, and as members of the criminal group.
Investigators discovered that the modus operandi involved publishing advertisements impersonating women on contact websites. Upon acquiring the user’s phone number, they threatened to disclose the individual’s usage of such sites to their acquaintances.
To date, 13 victims have been identified across the regions of Murcia, Alicante, Albacete, Zaragoza, Guipúzcoa, Malaga, Gerona, and Pontevedra.
The operation Licey remains ongoing, and further arrests as well as the identification of more victims cannot be ruled out.
