Recent arrests by National Police agents have led to the detention of 19 individuals linked to a criminal syndicate involved in fraudulent property schemes, committing offenses such as document forgery, fraud, and money laundering.
Among those arrested, two have been remanded in custody. The operation also resulted in the seizure of counterfeit documents, electronic devices, and 40.77 kilos of hashish, according to police reports.
The inquiry began following complaints from several victims who reported the illegal occupation of their homes. The alleged perpetrators altered locks and presented forged documents to notaries, pretending to sell properties, subsequently registering them in their name and offloading them to third parties.
The group targeted properties that were either abandoned or owned by elderly individuals, deceased persons, or those residing elsewhere.
Thus, using intermediaries who possessed knowledge of the property market, they approached notaries to simulate sales using fraudulent contracts, creating a chain of transactions that obscured the fraud.
Modus operandi
To create an appearance of legitimacy, the syndicate employed vulnerable individuals as supposed sellers or buyers, who claimed before notaries to have made cash payments for properties, without any verification.
With these documents, they successfully registered the properties with the Land Registry and proceeded with sales.
Investigations revealed that the criminal group unlawfully appropriated 18 properties in Tenerife, which included a villa located in an upscale area of the capital. In this instance, they attempted to register the sale of the house for 120,000 euros, while its cadastral value was actually 1,378,001.48 euros, fabricating a contract in the name of a person who had passed away 40 years earlier. The total amount of fraud is estimated at 2,875,178 euros.
In February, a police operation was carried out that involved eight simultaneous searches in various locations: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, La Laguna, Arico, Granadilla de Abona, and Güímar.
During these searches, significant documents were confiscated for the investigation, along with electronic devices and 40.77 kilos of hashish prepared for distribution, in addition to a precision scale intended for weighing drugs.
The individuals arrested have been presented to the judicial authorities, with two of them being remanded in custody.
The Territorial Management of the Cadastre of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has cooperated throughout the investigation.
