Fugitive Who Fled Ukraine After Defrauding Over a Million Euros Arrested in Benidorm

The National Police have captured in Benidorm a fugitive subject to an International Arrest Warrant (IAW) issued by Ukrainian authorities for the alleged commission of fraud. The fugitive reportedly defrauded over a million euros from 40 compatriots through a vehicle import business. He faces a maximum sentence of up to 12 years in prison, according to police sources.

The fugitive's arrest occurred at the Benidorm documentation offices, where the suspect was processing his foreign identification card. Upon entering his identity into the database, officers confirmed an international judicial claim from Ukraine.

Between 2023 and 2024, the arrested individual allegedly convinced 40 people from the Ukrainian region of Lviv to invest in a vehicle import business. After executing the fraud, he absconded with approximately 1,215,000 US dollars, equivalent to 1,062,000 euros, according to the same sources.

After verifying the validity of the arrest warrant, which had been issued by Ukrainian judicial authorities in February this year, officers proceeded with the arrest.

The detainee has been placed at the disposal of the Central Investigating Court of the National Court, the body responsible for processing his subsequent extradition.