They are investigating two cases of men kidnapped by force this early morning in Catalonia

With a few hours of difference, one has been held against his will in Santa Coloma de Gramenet and another has appeared tied up in La Cerdanya

2 min
A Mossos d'Esquadra vehicle, in a file image.
18/10/2026 - 14:30 h

BarcelonaOne at four in the morning and the other at eight in the morning. The Mossos d'Esquadra are investigating two possible cases of men abducted by force in the country. As ARA has learned, one occurred in Santa Coloma de Gramenet and the victim has not yet appeared. The other took place in Fontanals de Cerdanya and, in this case, the man has been located injured.

In Santa Coloma de Gramenet, the incident was recorded at four in the morning this Sunday, when a witness reported that a group of four people was taking a man away by force. According to this account, they put him inside a car, a white SUV, and fled. The events took place in the Singuerlín neighborhood, the section closest to the Marina mountain range and on the border with Can Franquesa, recognizable from the B-20 by its colorful buildings on the mountain. The victim's family—who has not yet been located—has already filed a complaint. In parallel, according to sources consulted by ARA, it is being investigated whether this illegal detention could be linked to a financial debt.

Four hours later, the Mossos received a warning of another illegal detention in Cerdanya. A man was shouting for help. About twenty minutes later, the police located a car in Fontanals de Cerdanya with a man inside who was tied up and showed signs of having been assaulted. No arrests have been made, as the victim was alone in the car. The man has been taken to a hospital.

Nine cases in 2026

These two possible cases of illegal detention arrive a few weeks after these methods, often linked to organized crime, generated an intense public debate. In one month, four cases were recorded. In all of them, the victims have been located, since these detentions usually occur to intimidate the victim and force them, for example, to settle a financial debt. Without counting the two possible cases this Sunday, in 2026 in Catalonia nine cases of kidnappings or illegal detentions linked to organized crime had been recorded.

According to the Penal Code, an illegal detention consists of depriving someone of their freedom. It is a different crime from kidnapping, in which it is required that the perpetrators demand a ransom in exchange for releasing the person.

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