Daniel J. Ollero Madrid
Madrid
Updated Friday, February 9, 2024-13:06
In an operation carried out by the
Special Operations Group
(GEO) of the
National Police
, two men were freed after their kidnapping in a squat house in Madrid. The intervention, which occurred after an exhaustive investigation, culminated in the arrest of nine individuals, including
Ramón Santiago Jiménez
, alias 'Ramón', previously convicted of his participation in the murder of Sandra Palo.
The victims, deceived under the pretext of a second-hand vehicle transaction, were
threatened with a firearm
and forced into the car that they would later use for the kidnapping. The detainees, made up of three women and six men, face charges of kidnapping, injuries, and robbery with violence and intimidation.
'Operation Maverick' began on January 17, after the victims' relatives reported their disappearance and contact by the kidnappers demanding a ransom. Although a first payment was made, efforts for a second ransom were unsuccessful. In addition, the theft of the money intended for the purchase of the car and the vehicle itself was reported.
The location of the kidnappers was achieved after
identifying an abandoned and fully occupied building
in Madrid, complicating the work of law enforcement. However, on January 19, a device was established that allowed the release of those kidnapped in apparent good health and the arrest of those involved.
Among those arrested is 'Ramón', whose criminal record continued after his imprisonment in the Sandra Palo case. The detainees, of various nationalities and ages, include six Spaniards, two Colombians and a Peruvian minor. After the operation, more than 16,000 euros in cash, a repeating shotgun and two vehicles were seized. The investigation remains open.