The Catalan police have arrested 18 people and seized over 260 phones in two operations against the reception of stolen devices in Ciutat Vella, Eixample, and Raval. The arrested individuals used SIM cards to access the personal data of the victims.
The Mossos d'Esquadra have dismantled two structures dedicated to receiving, storing, and redistributing stolen mobile phones in Barcelona. The investigations, carried out over the past few weeks, have resulted in 18 arrests and more than 260 devices seized, according to the Catalan police.
The first operation focused on the district of Ciutat Vella and concluded with 13 arrests, aged between 22 and 57 years. They are charged with crimes of receiving stolen goods, fraud, and discovery and revelation of secrets. Another three individuals have been investigated in the same case.
The lead that investigators followed was the locations provided by the victims of their phones. During the first half of 2026, agents found that in over 70 cases, the signal pointed to three nearby properties. In some instances, the devices changed location after a few days, reinforcing the suspicion of an organised structure to move them.
The detainees not only stored the devices: they also used the SIM cards to obtain information to attempt to unlock them. This trail led the Mossos to link the scheme with fraud committed through applications and fraudulent payment systems.
With all the evidence, agents deployed a device that included five entries and searches in properties in Eixample and Raval. More than 140 mobile phones, nine laptops, two tablets, and nearly 3,500 euros in cash were seized.
One of the properties searched had previously been the subject of an earlier investigation. Specifically, during the summer of 2025, around 500 devices were located there, which brought it back onto the police radar. The 13 detainees had a combined total of over 30 prior convictions.
As a collateral consequence, the Mossos managed to recover a home that had been illegally occupied and return it to its owners.
The second investigation followed a different pattern. Agents detected that several phones reported as stolen were linked to two properties under surveillance. The structure was allegedly dedicated to acquiring stolen devices, storing them, and manipulating them before reintroducing them into commercial circuits.
The second police operation included two entries in properties in Ciutat Vella and ended with four arrests, aged between 26 and 33 years. In this operation, 120 mobile phones, six laptops, four tablets, and 20,000 euros in cash were located.
Both investigations share the modus operandi in the reception and treatment of the devices, although they developed around different structures. The work is part of the Mossos' strategy against repeat offenders and networks that facilitate the reintroduction of stolen phones into the market.
"The investigations have allowed the reconstruction of two different networks related to the reception and subsequent marketing of stolen devices," according to police sources.
The detainees were placed at the disposal of the judiciary and the investigations remain open. The Catalan police recommend that citizens report the theft of their phone and provide the location of the device to facilitate such operations.
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