A European operation led by the National Police has resulted in the arrest of 12 individuals in Naples, Italy, dismantling a criminal network dedicated to the violent theft of high-end watches. The investigation, conducted in collaboration with the Italian Polizia di Stato and coordinated by Europol, targets groups known as "paranzas," originating from Naples, which operate in Spanish tourist destinations.

The detainees, arrested under European arrest warrants issued by Spanish judicial authorities, are part of organizations that meticulously plan their trips to Spain. They use false documentation and vehicles for transportation and escape, selecting victims in locations frequented by tourists and high-net-worth individuals in cities such as Marbella, Málaga, Barcelona, Ibiza, and Palma de Mallorca.

The National Police describe a modus operandi that includes lengthy surveillance and "quick and violent" actions to snatch watches from victims' wrists, followed by immediate escape on motorcycles. The stolen watches are then transported out of Spain to be introduced into international fencing channels.

This operation brings the total number of arrests across several European countries to 31. According to the Police, "the increasing value of luxury watches on the international market has fueled the expansion of this criminal phenomenon," making it a "transnational threat."