The Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police, and the Barcelona Urban Guard say they have dismantled a criminal group known as 'Los 300' after arresting 18 young people in Barcelona and its metropolitan area on 19 May. Police say the group is linked to violent robberies, often involving bladed weapons, an attempted homicide and drug trafficking.

For residents in Sant Andreu, Sant Martí and Nou Barris, the three districts named by investigators, the case matters because police say the group's activity was concentrated in parks, squares and nearby public spaces where young people gathered. Officers said the group also used social media to publicise its actions and recruit members.

According to details given on Wednesday by José Ángel Merino, an inspector in the Mossos' Criminal Investigation Division, known by its Catalan initials DIC, and Juan Guzmán, superintendent of the Urban Guard, all 18 suspected members were arrested when the operation concluded on 19 May. Six of those arrested are minors, and police said only one detainee is a girl.

Investigators say the group stood out for the systematic use of violence and for financing itself through drug trafficking.

Detentions, custody and the areas named by police

Police said seven of those arrested were remanded in pre-trial detention. Two of the minors were sent to a youth internment centre.

  • 18 people arrested in total
  • 6 of those arrested are minors
  • 7 suspects remanded in pre-trial detention
  • 2 minors sent to an internment centre
  • Operation concluded on Monday 19 May

Investigators said the group's activity was concentrated in Sant Andreu, Sant Martí and Nou Barris. Earlier reporting cited by the same evidence base had placed part of the group's activity around the park at Carrer de Menorca, 64, in Sant Martí, and described violent incidents in parks and squares.

What police say residents should know

Police say the group exploited the lower criminal responsibility of adolescents by assigning them the most aggressive assaults. That detail was given by investigators as part of the explanation for how the group operated.

For residents concerned about possible gang activity in their area, the immediate next step remains to report specific incidents to the police or the Urban Guard, especially violence involving knives, threats or drug dealing in parks, squares and around schools. The information released on Wednesday did not announce any new public reporting channel or neighbourhood meeting linked specifically to this case.

The case was presented publicly by Merino and Guzmán after the arrests and custody decisions. Police have described the group as dismantled.

Reported by Source Text Link, Germán González, Ángela Vázquez, Mayka Navarro, elperiodico.com, Metrópoli, El Faro, Marc Pascual Garsaball, Arnau Raimundo, europapress.es, Cesc Maideu, Rebeca Carranco, El Confidencial.