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Spanish police arrest 60 in raids on Chinese mob

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Spanish National Police agents collect documents found after they raided a Chinese business at the Cobo Calleja industrial estate, in Fuenlabrada district, Madrid, on Tuesday. Photo: EPA

Spanish police arrested 60 people in raids on Chinese mobsters and accomplices, including a Spanish porn star, suspected of laundering money from prostitution and extortion, authorities said on Tuesday.

Hundreds of officers were carrying out raids in Madrid and Barcelona with warrants to arrest 108 people and search 120 properties on money-laundering and tax-dodging charges, an official in the National Court told reporters.

“The national police is carrying out a major operation against money-laundering and other crimes linked to criminal networks of Chinese origin in various provinces of Spain,” the government said in a separate statement.

“About 60 people have already been detained and the arrests and searches are continuing,” involving some 300 police officers, the interior ministry statement said on Tuesday morning, promising more details later.

Spanish National Police agents inspect a vehicle during a raid on Chinese business on Tuesday. The raid is part of the so-called operation 'Emperador' that aims to halt the activities of the Chinese mafia throughout Spain. Photo: EPA
Spanish National Police agents inspect a vehicle during a raid on Chinese business on Tuesday. The raid is part of the so-called operation 'Emperador' that aims to halt the activities of the Chinese mafia throughout Spain. Photo: EPA
The National Court, which ran a two-year investigation leading to Tuesday’s raids, said the gang channelled money from rackets involving prostitution and extortion to tax havens with the help of Spanish and Israeli intermediaries.

The network also smuggled cash to China by train and car and used front companies such as karaoke bars and restaurants, the court official said. The authorities did not say how much money was involved.

Among those arrested was Nacho Vidal, an international porn star credited in titles such as and .

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