Spanish authorities on Monday arrested a group of Colombian hit men based in Madrid who were supposedly hired by various Spanish crime syndicates to extort and even kill members of rival criminal gangs.
The seven alleged contract killers were reportedly captured in Madrid at their headquarters known as the “office of assassins.” Spanish authorities said the arrests occurred right after the group had received a weapons arsenal which included machine guns and a small cache of explosives.
The supposed leader of the outfit, known as “The Rabbit,” is also wanted by Colombian authorities for various crimes in his home country.
The seven detainees are accused of forming a “billing office” in Spain and acting as enforcers for Colombian drug cartels. Supposedly, they would beat, kidnap, or murder individuals who did not pay the Colombian gangs in a timely manner. These fearsome debt collectors reportedly would receive up to 50% of the amount owed by the victim.
Investigations into the gang began around 16 months ago when authorities noticed that members of the group would meet at the same restaurant in Madrid. Police also linked some of the members with the so-called “acid band,” a mafia group that specialized in settling accounts and then dissolving victims’ bodies.