Spanish police uncover gang torture room on Costa del Sol
Bastillepost · 2 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Police in Estepona on Spain’s Costa del Sol uncovered what authorities described as a purpose-built torture room inside a villa after receiving an emergency report shortly after 1am on 5 September. Officers rescued two naked, bloodied men, including one who ran out of the property screaming that he had been kidnapped and would be killed. Seven suspects were arrested, and weapons including AK-47 rifles, handguns and ammunition were seized at the scene. Investigators believe the case is tied to organised drug crime, with both victims and suspects said to have criminal records linked to narcotics offences.
Key Points
- The police response began after a woman reported that her partner had gone to a house for “shady business” and told her to call police if he failed to contact her within 10 minutes.
- When officers arrived, a naked Moroccan man covered in blood burst out in panic, shouting that he had been kidnapped and that the men inside were going to kill him.
- Police then entered the villa and found a room with walls and floors covered in plastic sheeting, a chair wrapped in plastic, and bloodstained tools including pliers and hammers.
- A second victim, identified by one report as Miguel Ángel, was found naked, tied to a chair and bleeding from the mouth; he told police the gang had intended to kill him
- Authorities arrested seven alleged members of a Serbian criminal organisation and said they face accusations including attempted murder, illegal detention, torture, organised crime involvement and weapons offences
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the case is a reminder that major European resort areas can also serve as bases for transnational narcotics networks and violent gang enforcement. It also shows how quickly a brief emergency message can trigger a police intervention that saves lives in cases involving kidnapping, torture and firearms.