This is the moment when three British men were dramatically arrested about an alleged Costa del Sol Kidnap -Plot with a British cryptocurrency broker.
The Spanish police today released images that surrounded an Audi in which the trio tried to flee, to flee – after their victim succeeded in escaping the suspects on the ground.
The men had a hostage and demanded 30,000 euros (£ 25,000) for his release after an accidental meeting in Marbella led him to accept an invitation for an apartment in nearby resort Estepona.
That was where the abductors were supposed to live temporarily.
The 34-year-old Hindi-speaking target came away by pretending he was calling a customer he said he had to give him half a code needed to access a crypto wallet.
Instead, he called a friend in London and explained how he was held against his will in language who did not understand his abductors.
His friend warned the mother of the victim, who told the police what happened – causing an operation to find the building where he was held, of which researchers initially only knew it was in the Estepona area.
Heavily armed officers succeeded in tracing the apartment and prepared to call in specialized reinforcements when the abducted man used a temporary concentration by his abductors to escape.
Three British men were dramatically arrested by the Spanish police about an alleged Costa del Sol Kidnap -Plot with a British cryptocurrency broker broker
The Spanish police today released images that show the moment that they surrounded an Audi in which the trio tried to flee – before officers shot them on the ground.
Officers fell an apartment in the Estepona resort where the suspects stayed
One suspect looked at his mobile when he ran and more than 30 ft from a balcony jumped and his ankles broke.
The images that have now been released by the police showed that officers who came in when the kidnappers tried to accelerate in their Audi in realizing their attempts to earn money quickly were frustrated.
Officers found more than £ 8,000, in euros, during a search in the apartment – as well as two weapons, three knives and 25 g pink cocaine.
The three arrested British, who are not mentioned, were all sent back to the prison after a court performance.
The police have now become public with details about the operation to resolve the Costa abduction, in a seven-hour mission Codenaam-Operation Espino.
A spokesperson for the National Police in Malaga said: 'Three men have arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, injury, membership of a criminal organization, illegal possession of weapons and drug trafficking.
“They are now in prison after a court. The investigation began when officers were informed about the kidnapping on 1 February.
'Detectives have succeeded in finding the residential estate where they believed that the victim was being held.
The police found more than £ 8,000, in euros, during a search in the apartment – as well as two guns, three knives and 25 g pink cocaine
'During the police operation that was founded to find the apartment, officers saw several nervous-looking men go and again between the inside of the building and an outdoor terrace.
“Moments later they witnessed another man who turned out to be the kidnower of the victim from the terrace to the ground.
“He was taken to the hospital so that he could be treated for the injuries he sustained in the fall. The three suspects were arrested when they tried to get away in a powerful vehicle.
“Two firearms hidden in kitchen cabinets, almost 10,000 euros, a money counter machine, three knives including one butterfly knife, two designer watches and 25 g pink cocaine and a scales were found during a search in the apartment.”
Police sources confirmed that all arrested men were British.
The kidnapping trio had tied their victim and threatened to kill him during his test unless he had access to the crypto portfolios of his customers so that he could pay them to regain his freedom.
Heavily armed officers managed to track the apartment in Estepona, Spain
Spanlsh police sources confirmed that all arrested men were British
They were talking during a casual meeting in a Marbella Hotel Fourteen days earlier – and eventually received a meal together on the day of kidnapping.
The victim then accepted an invitation for drinks at the building in Estepona, where he was eventually held hostage.
The police suspect that they have planned their crime after the British trader told them what he did for a living – and they realized that he earned well and had access to large quantities of cryptocurrency.
Only one of the prisoners was known to the police in Spain, but all three are supposed to have criminal registers in the UK for possession of weapons and drug delicacies.
