A large-scale operation to uncover corruption schemes linked to the activities of the State Industrial Shareholding Company (SEPI) is ongoing in Spain. Early Friday morning, officers from the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Guardia Civil began conducting searches at the offices of the national postal service Correos, as well as several agencies under the Ministries of Finance and Ecological Transition. The main goal is to seize documents related to the awarding of contracts and the granting of subsidies, which investigators believe may have been distributed in violation of regulations.
Law enforcement is focusing on possible fraud in the awarding of government contracts. Among the institutions being investigated are the Directorate for State Property Management and the Central Administrative Tribunal for Contractual Disputes, both part of the Finance Ministry. In addition, searches are being carried out at Cofivacasa, a company fully controlled by SEPI, as well as in several departments within the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge.
Arrests and suspects
The UCO operation intensified following Tuesday’s arrest of former Socialist and ex-municipal deputy Leire Díez, as well as former SEPI head Vicente Fernández Guerrero and Basque entrepreneur Joseba Antxon Alonso. The latter is known as a close friend and business partner of former Socialist Party leader Santos Cerdán. Investigators believe these individuals may have been involved in organizing schemes to distribute public funds by circumventing the law.
As part of the investigation, UCO officers are seizing documents that could shed light on the details of awarded contracts and the process for granting subsidies. Special attention is being given to cases suspected of collusion and breaches of procurement procedures. Searches are being carried out simultaneously at multiple institutions, underscoring the scale of the alleged scheme.
Documents under scrutiny
The investigation is focusing not only on central agencies, but also on SEPI’s subsidiaries. Specifically, Cofivacasa, which, according to investigators, may have been used for questionable transactions. UCO officers have also requested documents from various departments of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, including divisions responsible for demographic policy.
Investigators are thoroughly analyzing all seized materials to determine how public funds were distributed and who may have personally benefited. Preliminary information indicates that the case involves multimillion-euro contracts and subsidies that may have been allocated in violation of the law.
Investigation continues
Operation UCO is ongoing, and further actions by law enforcement are expected in the near future. Investigators do not rule out the emergence of new suspects or the expansion of the list of institutions to be searched. For now, the primary focus remains on reviewing the seized documents and interrogating those detained.
The investigation is still in its early stages, and details of the case are being clarified. In the coming days, more information is expected regarding the scale of the alleged corruption scheme and who else may be involved in manipulating public contracts and subsidies.
