The Ertzaintza made a significant breakthrough in a two-year operation with the arrest of a 21-year-old man, of Maghrebi origin, in Bilbao on Sunday, April 12. He is accused of being part of a criminal group that stole mobile phones to then withdraw money from the owners' bank accounts and transfer it to foreign accounts and cryptocurrency wallets.

The investigation, dubbed Ilunakoin, began in 2024 after a victim reported their mobile phone stolen and subsequent fraudulent transfers from their bank accounts, as reported by the Security Department of the Basque Government. The Telematics Crimes Group of the Bilbao Ertzain-etxea took charge of the investigation.

Following various inquiries, it was confirmed that part of the stolen money had ended up in the cryptocurrency wallet of a man residing in Bilbao. Furthermore, it was concluded that this individual was involved in more cases using the same modus operandi. To date, thirteen victims have been identified, suffering a total economic loss of approximately 150,000 euros.

In addition to the arrested individual, nine other people are under investigation: eight men aged between 24 and 56, of Maghrebi origin (six of whom do not reside in Spain), and a 26-year-old woman of European origin. Each had a different degree of involvement in the criminal group.

During the search of the arrested person's home, electronic devices, 4,000 euros in cash, a cryptocurrency wallet, a fake ID card, and a forged driving license with the detainee's photograph were seized, along with a high-end vehicle. The detainee, accused of fraud, receiving stolen goods, money laundering, identity theft, and illegal access to information systems, was brought before a judge this Tuesday, who ordered his provisional imprisonment. The Ertzaintza continues its investigations to determine if there may be more victims of this group.