A Norwegian man escaped with his life after enduring a three-day ransom hell at the hands of a murderous Swedish gang in Alicante, police have said.
According to the Policia Nacional, the victim was kidnapped by the members of the ‘Dalen’ network, one of Sweden’s most powerful international organised crime gangs.
He was found leaving a building in San Pedro del Pinatar on December 12, after his captors demanded a ransom of around 800,000 Swedish kronor (€75,000) from a friend and his family.
The Policia Nacional arrested four people in connection with the case – three in San Pedro del Pinatar and one in Torrevieja – on suspicion of kidnapping, robbery with violence, assault and membership of a criminal organisation.
Court twist after dramatic rescue
However, the case took a dramatic turn last week when an Alicante court ordered the release of three of the suspects, after hearing a statement from the alleged victim.
He told the judge that the situation was a ‘misunderstanding’, claimed he had not been kidnapped and said the arrested individuals were acquaintances.
Despite this, police sources believe the man’s reluctance to cooperate may stem from fear of reprisals from the criminal network allegedly involved.
Violent international gang
Investigators have linked the case to a Swedish-based criminal organisation known as ‘Dalen’, which police associate with drug and arms trafficking and violent crime.
According to statements given to police, one of the alleged kidnappers is said to have committed murders in Sweden.
The alarm was raised by a relative of the Norwegian man and a friend living in El Campello, after they received messages from the kidnappers demanding money, along with videos showing assaults and death threats against the victim during his detention.
The friend also reported that several American Bully puppies had previously been stolen from him by members of the same group, and that the dogs appeared alongside the victim in one of the threatening clips.
Sources close to the investigation told regional newspaper Información that no ransom was demanded specifically for the dogs, despite earlier police claims.
72-hour police operation
The investigation began after a call to the 24-hour hotline of the Kidnapping and Extortion Unit, triggered by Spain’s Norwegian police liaison officer, who warned of the abduction of a Norwegian national in the province of Alicante.
Police initially searched a property in Almoradi, where the victim was believed to be held, but found no trace of him.
The operation then shifted to Torrevieja and Orihuela, before culminating in San Pedro del Pinatar, where three suspects were arrested in the car park of a shopping centre.
The fourth suspect was arrested in Torrevieja, while police continue to search for three more individuals allegedly linked to the case.
All aforementioned areas are hugely popular with the expat community on the southern Costa Blanca.
Injuries and key evidence
When found, the Norwegian man was taken to a medical centre with multiple injuries to his face and chest.
Despite this, he declined to provide details about his alleged captivity or the identities of those involved.
During the arrests, officers found the victim’s identity documents on one suspect, while another was wearing the same shoes seen in the threatening video sent to the family.
Police also seized two vehicles, including a rented car allegedly used to transport the victim, both of which were taken to Alicante Provincial Police Headquarters for forensic examination.
The case comes amid growing concern over the presence of international organised crime networks along Spain’s Mediterranean coast.
Read more Costa del Crime news at the Spanish Eye.
