Authorities in Spain have announced that 69 suspected members of a Georgian organized crime ring have been arrested in a Europe-wide operation.
Spanish police said 24 of the suspects were detained in Spain, mainly in Barcelona and Valencia, as part of Operation Java.
Other arrests took place in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, and Italy.
Those arrested are suspected members of a Georgian mafia network accused of money-laundering, extortion, drugs trafficking and possessing weapons.
Spanish national radio said the suspects were mostly Georgian and Russian nationals.
Police described that gang, the Tambovskaya-Malyshevskaya, as "one of the four biggest in the world."
The arrests are the result of a yearlong investigation initiated by Spanish police.
compiled from agency reports
Spanish police said 24 of the suspects were detained in Spain, mainly in Barcelona and Valencia, as part of Operation Java.
Other arrests took place in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, and Italy.
Those arrested are suspected members of a Georgian mafia network accused of money-laundering, extortion, drugs trafficking and possessing weapons.
Spanish national radio said the suspects were mostly Georgian and Russian nationals.
Police described that gang, the Tambovskaya-Malyshevskaya, as "one of the four biggest in the world."
The arrests are the result of a yearlong investigation initiated by Spanish police.
compiled from agency reports
