TLDR
- British cryptocurrency broker kidnapped in Spain after chance meeting led to drinks invite, with captors demanding €30,000 in crypto
- Victim escaped by making fake call in Hindi to London friend, jumping from 30-foot balcony and breaking ankles
- Spanish police arrested three British men, found weapons including two guns, three knives, and €10,000 in cash
- Police also discovered 25 grams of pink cocaine and other items during apartment search
- All three suspects have been remanded to prison on charges including kidnapping and weapons possession
Three British men are in custody after Spanish police foiled a cryptocurrency kidnapping plot in Estepona, Costa del Sol. The incident, which began with a chance meeting in Marbella, led to the dramatic escape of a 34-year-old British crypto broker who jumped from a third-floor balcony to flee his captors.
The events unfolded after an initial meeting at a Marbella hotel. The crypto broker met the group and shared a meal with them, after which they invited him for drinks at an apartment in nearby Estepona. The invitation turned into a hostage situation when the men demanded €30,000 (£25,000) in cryptocurrency from the broker’s customers’ accounts.
During his captivity, the broker faced threats of torture and death if he failed to comply with the ransom demands. The kidnappers bound him and pressured him to access his clients’ crypto wallets. However, the victim devised an escape plan using his language skills.
The broker pretended to make a phone call to obtain half of a crypto wallet access code. Instead, he contacted a friend in London, speaking in Hindi to mask his true message. He informed his friend about being held against his will, knowing his captors wouldn’t understand the conversation.
The friend quickly alerted the victim’s mother, who contacted law enforcement. Spanish police launched a search operation, initially only knowing the property was somewhere in the Estepona area. As they closed in on the location, they observed several men moving nervously between the apartment and an outdoor terrace.
The situation reached its climax when the victim spotted an opportunity during a moment of distraction. While one kidnapper was looking at his mobile phone, the broker made his escape, leaping more than 30 feet from a balcony. The fall resulted in broken ankles, but secured his freedom.
Police footage captured the subsequent arrests as the suspects attempted to flee in an Audi. Officers surrounded the vehicle and apprehended all three men at gunpoint. The operation, codenamed Operation Espino, lasted seven hours.
A search of the apartment revealed an arsenal of weapons and other items. Police discovered two firearms hidden in kitchen cupboards, three knives including a butterfly knife, and €10,000 in cash. Officers also found a money counting machine, two designer watches, and 25 grams of pink cocaine along with a weighing scale.
The Spanish National Police in Malaga confirmed multiple charges against the suspects. These include kidnapping, causing bodily harm, membership in a criminal organization, unlawful weapons possession, and drug trafficking. All three men appeared before a court and were remanded to prison.
The investigation determined that the kidnapping plot likely formed after the initial meeting, when the broker revealed his profession. The suspects apparently realized he had access to substantial amounts of cryptocurrency through his work.
Police sources verified that all parties involved, including both the victim and the three suspects, are British citizens. The victim received medical treatment for injuries sustained during his escape.
The raid took place on February 1, 2025, when heavily armed officers located the apartment. They were preparing to bring in specialist reinforcements when the victim made his escape attempt.
Local authorities executed the arrests as part of a coordinated effort to combat criminal activities in the Costa del Sol region. The case highlights the risks faced by cryptocurrency professionals who may become targets due to their access to digital assets.
The suspects remain in custody awaiting further legal proceedings. Spanish authorities continue to investigate potential connections to other criminal activities in the area.
