A Serbian man who had been evading the Portuguese authorities for over five years was apprehended by the Spanish Civil Guard in a supermarket in Torrevieja recently. The fugitive, known for his involvement in burglaries, had been living a seemingly quiet life with his family in the Alicante municipality.
The man, who was the subject of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by Portugal in December 2018, had employed various tactics to avoid detection. These included using disguises, maintaining a low profile, and implementing counter-surveillance measures.
Spanish authorities had been tracking the fugitive since last December when they received information about his whereabouts in Torrevieja. A joint operation involving the Civil Guard’s Territorial Judicial Police Team in Torrevieja led to his arrest on September 9.
During the operation, officers observed the man’s behaviour, noting his use of disguises and his heightened awareness of potential surveillance. Despite these challenges, they were able to identify and apprehend him without incident.
Upon arrest, the fugitive was found to be carrying a forged Croatian identity card. He is suspected of using this document to conceal his true identity and evade authorities. In addition to the EAW, he faces charges of document forgery.
The arrested man has a history of criminal activity, including burglary and involvement in organised crime. He is known to have used multiple aliases and has a record of using forged documents. Following his arrest, he appeared before a local court and was released on bail with conditions.
