Spanish law enforcement services have arrested 30 people across the country suspected in the illegal distribution of paid television content. The proceeds were invested in bitcoin mining as well as luxury goods.

Arrests were made in several cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Cordoba. Police also seized six bitcoin mining centres, Reuters reports. According to the officials, vast amounts of electricity were fraudulently used for running these facilities.

The group allegedly illegally decoded pay-TV content for further distribution. Alongside bitcoin mining malefactors also invested in bank products, luxury cars and property. The investigation was carried out by Spanish police in cooperation with the national tax office.

Police did not disclose how much money has been laundered through the scheme. However, the raid saw 31,320 euros worth of cryptocurrency seized, as well as cash, motorbikes, luxury cars and small aircraft.

Last July Spanish police arrested twenty people in seven cities all over the country involved in a Ponzi scheme featuring the unete cryptocurrency. The scammers reportedly stole €50 million from more than 50,000 investors. The funds went to the offshore zone of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and then flowed to Latvian, Maltese and Rumanian bank accounts.

Nadya Krasnushkina