Overview
- Seven suspects were arrested on December 2 after nine coordinated searches in León province, capping a national investigation launched early this year.
- Police seized around 6,000 silver coins, 21 Roman aurei and roughly 1,000 additional artifacts, along with nine metal detectors, three high‑end vehicles and nearly €50,000 in cash.
- The recovered gold votive crown is traced to a catalogued archaeological site in Valladolid, where investigators say the group also targeted protected locations.
- Authorities accuse the detainees of membership in a criminal organization, crimes against historical heritage, money laundering and aggravated theft.
- Investigators say the group used a multifrequency deep‑search metal detector, hid vehicles to avoid detection and sold cleaned and catalogued items via online platforms, private social‑media groups and in‑home transactions, with illicit sales estimated above €1 million.