Spanish police rescue crypto investor kidnapped on vacation

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A Syrian luxury car dealer and crypto investor was kidnapped while on vacation in Spain last week, in a plot involving armed kidnappers, a three-story villa, a room prepared for butchery and a million ransom of dollars.

The unidentified man allegedly ran a Dubai-based crypto fund and traveled from his home in Hungary to the Costa del Sol for a two-week trip alone, Spanish outlet Nius Diario reports. He asked his friend if he knew anyone in the area – they put him in touch with a trio from Greece and Albania. After partying together for several days, they apparently decided to turn on him.

Things turned sour on May 3 at noon when Spanish police were alerted to the Syrian’s kidnapping. Police say the man’s friend received an image and voicemail from the kidnappers to show the investor being held at gunpoint. The friend was instructed to shell out 1 million euros.

However, unbeknownst to the kidnappers, the victim was able to take a photo of the view from his window and send it to the authorities. The photo and his landmarks were enough to help police determine that he was being held in a three-story luxury villa in Málaga.

An operation involving around fifty police officers was then organized to free the victim. Within five hours of receiving the image, officers surrounded the villa and rushed to free the crypto investor.

The photo sent to the crypto manager’s friend showing him at gunpoint (via Policia Nacional). A large saw and a sheet of plastic found at the crime scene (via Policia Nacional). Aerial footage of police raiding the villa (via Policia Nacional).

Read more: Police still don’t know if the crypto millionaire was kidnapped or just lying

His captors, two Greeks and an Albanian – aged 35, 36 and 54 respectively – have been arrested. The crypto investor was released and suffered only minor bruises.

A police search revealed two firearms, one with a silencer, and $5,000 and $1,200 in cash. A room covered in plastic sheeting and saws was also discovered, suggesting that torture was in the cards for the crypto investor if they did not cooperate.

Reports say the alleged kidnappers were in custody on May 5 and are awaiting trial in Torremolinos. One of them had a criminal record for armed robbery in another part of the country and a fake passport. Fake IDs were found on a second kidnapper.

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