Five people have been arrested and four others investigated for alleged crimes including membership in a criminal group, fraud, attempted fraud, and unauthorized access to computer systems.
- One of the detainees, an employee of the company, used his position to misappropriate household appliances and IT equipment worth nearly €500,000.
- The stolen IT equipment was sold across the country.
Murcia, March 28, 2025 – The Civil Guard of the Murcia region has carried out Operation Klug, an investigation launched to uncover the theft of a large quantity of electronic products from a company specializing in IT component distribution. The operation resulted in the dismantling of a criminal group in Murcia, with five people arrested and four others under investigation for alleged involvement in crimes including membership in a criminal organization, fraud, attempted fraud, and unauthorized access to a computer system.
During the operation, two house searches were conducted, leading to the recovery of some of the stolen electronic equipment. Authorities also seized two high-end cars and a boat, which were allegedly purchased using the proceeds of the criminal activity.
How the Fraud Was Uncovered
The investigation began earlier this year when officers from the Civil Guard’s Citizen Security Prevention Unit opened an inquiry into suspected misappropriation of products from a well-known IT and appliance distribution company. The company reported irregularities that pointed to a former employee as the main suspect.
The investigation revealed that this employee had fraudulently taken products—primarily high-performance laptops and video game consoles—worth nearly €500,000.
The suspect exploited his position at the company by placing large and heavy orders, such as radiators, which followed a different logistical process compared to smaller packages. When the company received large shipments of IT equipment from suppliers, the employee placed his own orders and then altered them before they left the warehouse. He initially ordered radiators as a regular online customer, but before shipping, he added several high-value laptops to his orders, each worth thousands of euros.
At first, the stolen goods were delivered directly to the employee himself, but as the volume of thefts increased, he involved family members and friends in the scheme.
Through data analysis, investigators identified 62 fraudulent orders linked to missing stock, with total losses amounting to nearly €500,000.
Arrests and Seizures
Once the necessary evidence was gathered and all members of the criminal network identified, the Civil Guard carried out the final phase of the operation. Two house searches were conducted in the Murcia districts of Cabezo de Torres and Espinardo, which served as the group’s operational bases. Authorities recovered several stolen items, including gaming laptops, computer monitors, video game consoles, gaming chairs, steering wheels with pedal sets, and household appliances such as vacuum cleaners and routers. Additionally, two luxury vehicles and a boat—allegedly purchased with illicit gains—were confiscated.
The operation led to the arrest of five members of the same family, including the primary suspect and former employee of the affected company. Four additional individuals who collaborated with the criminal group were also investigated.
In total, nine people have been implicated in the dismantled criminal network and face charges for crimes including membership in a criminal organization, fraud, attempted fraud, and unauthorized access to a computer system.
The investigation confirmed that the stolen IT products were sold across the country.
