They are investigating a new case of a kidnapped man, the fourth in a month

BarcelonaNew case of illegal detention in Catalonia, again linked to drug trafficking. This Sunday at 9:30 p.m. in Calella, in the Maresme region, a witness alerted that three hooded people had gotten out of a car and had forcibly taken a man, putting him inside the trunk. It all happened in an area on the outskirts of Calella, on Puig de Popa street, but quite busy. The victim's car was left parked in the area, open and with money inside, a clue that has been useful for the Mossos d'Esquadra.

At this time, the police have no record that the victim has been released. Yes, sources consulted by the ARA confirm that it is a case linked to drug trafficking, according to the initial investigations carried out by the specialists of the DIC (Criminal Investigation Division). Therefore, the fact that the Mossos do not have confirmation that the victim has been released does not mean that they are still being held, since in many cases, when dealing with criminal circles, the victims do not usually report it. According to municipal sources, no disappearance has been reported in Calella, nor has anyone been found missing.

This is the fourth case in one month of this type of illegal detention in Catalonia. The first was in Gavà, where at the beginning of the month they shot a motorcyclist, kidnapped him, and left him wounded in Sabadell. Last weekend it was on the AP-7 in Montornès del Vallès, when some fake police officers crashed into a car and forcibly kidnapped the co-pilot. He appeared a few hours later a few kilometers away, and everything is said to be linked to a marijuana plantation that the police dismantled in 2025. The next day there was another one in Barcelona and the victim appeared wounded at a gas station in Salt.

Nine cases in one year

During 2026, in Catalonia, eight cases of kidnappings or illegal detentions linked to organized crime have been registered, with the last three concentrated in fifteen days. Now, with this Sunday's case, there are already nine episodes. Police sources, however, also admit that there is a dark figure of unreported crimes, as the victims are usually involved in criminal activities and do not tend to go to the police.

As explained this Monday by ARA, this type of illegal detention, often linked to intimidation over drug debts, is also on the rise in Spain and Europe, with several similar cases that have been recorded during this year. Police sources frame this within the wave of violence between drug cartels detected in recent years.