Four hooded men kidnapped a man in front of his home in the Singuerlín area of Santa Coloma de Gramenet in the early hours of Sunday 18 October, regional police the Mossos d'Esquadra have confirmed. The incident occurred around 04:00 on Carrer de Córdoba, when the suspects intercepted the victim, forced him into a vehicle, and drove away.
The man's wife contacted emergency services on the 112 line, reporting the abduction. She told police her husband had taken out a loan of just over €1,000, but those who lent him the money were now demanding €4,000 in repayment, an amount he could not afford. According to her statement, the suspects arranged a meeting to recover the debt and resorted to kidnapping to intimidate him.
The woman has been taken to a local police station to assist with the investigation. The Mossos have opened a formal inquiry into the illegal detention, which under Spanish law refers to abductions where no ransom beyond an alleged debt is demanded. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the wife’s account is fully accurate or identified the suspects.
Surge in Debt-Related Abductions
This incident marks at least the 12th reported case of illegal detention in Catalonia this year, most linked to drug trafficking or unregulated lending. On Thursday 15 October, the Mossos’ elite Grup Especial d'Intervenció (GEI) arrested four men in Torreforta, Tarragona, in connection with a separate kidnapping on 7 September. That victim, a man from Gavà, was shot and left in the boot of a car before being abandoned in Sabadell with serious injuries.
The four suspects, aged 18, 21, 43 and 51, were held on remand without bail following judicial proceedings. The case highlighted growing concerns over so-called 'express kidnappings' tied to debts from underground lenders. The Divisió d'Investigació Criminal (DIC) of the Metropolitan South Region continues to investigate.
We are treating this as a serious crime involving illegal detention and possible coercion. Our teams are working to locate the victim and identify those responsible.
What This Means for Residents
Residents in Santa Coloma and surrounding areas are urged to report suspicious activity to the Mossos d'Esquadra via their official website or by calling 088. Local authorities have reiterated calls for increased security resources, citing rising pressures on social and law enforcement services.
Anyone with information about the incident on Carrer de Córdoba is asked to contact the Santa Coloma police unit directly. The investigation remains ongoing, and no arrests have yet been made in this specific case.
Primary sources: mossos.gencat.cat, interior.gencat.cat. Reported by elcaso.elnacional.cat, Guillem RS, Europa Press, teleprensa.com, ACN, gramenet.cat, ajuntamentinforma.gramenet.cat, El Caso (El Nacional).
