Spain Arrests 53 Betting Mules for Selling Betting Accounts

In a coordinated effort with Interpol and Europol, the Spanish National Police have apprehended 53 individuals in Madrid and Guadalajara for their involvement in a criminal network accused of selling betting accounts to a match-fixing syndicate.

The accused are charged with operating as “betting mules”, contributing to fraud, and laundering money.

This recent sweep of 53 suspects represents the second stage of an ongoing operation initiated in 2020. Working in concert with Interpol, Spanish officials have been probing an international betting syndicate that has been fixing matches across various countries and leveraging cutting-edge tech for live betting. This advantage enabled the syndicate to outpace bookmakers by betting on outcomes already determined.

The syndicate’s longevity in evading punishment was partly due to their use of over 1500 third-party betting accounts, culminating in illegal profits estimated at €2 million ($2.17 million).

The first phase in 2023 led to the arrest of 23 individuals, including key syndicate leaders. The current focus is on those who provided the betting accounts.