A decade-long investigation into a double murder in Terrassa (Catalonia) has unexpectedly revealed a complex picture of change within Spain’s criminal underworld. Events triggered by the shooting of two alleged mafia members in January 2016 led to a large-scale realignment of power dynamics among organized crime groups.
Over several years, the investigation gradually uncovered internal conflicts and a change in leadership. Arrests and deportations caused the former Georgian ‘thieves-in-law’ to lose control of the organization. They were replaced by figures from the Armenian diaspora, who quickly strengthened their positions, especially in Catalonia and the Valencian Community. The new leaders not only maintained traditional criminal activities—such as theft, extortion, and drug trafficking—but also expanded their influence by engaging in sports betting manipulation.
In 2017, police carried out a series of arrests, including detaining Kakha Sushanashvili, who managed operations from Barcelona. His brother, Lasha, was at that time in a Greek prison. A second wave of arrests soon followed, bringing in more than a hundred people. The investigation gradually gathered evidence, documenting how Armenian leaders seized control of key business areas and established new internal rules within the organization.
One of the central figures was Armenak B., known as Bdo. Having spent many years imprisoned in countries of the former USSR, he managed to earn respect among criminal authorities. From his apartment in Badalona, he coordinated financial flows and maintained contact with Kahaber’s family, using international money transfer systems.
Meanwhile, a new faction was emerging in Valencia, aiming to assert control over the entire territory of Spain. This led to open confrontation between various groups. To resolve disputes, two meetings were held in Madrid in 2018, bringing together mafia representatives from across Europe and even the USA. One of these meetings was organized by Artem V., a tough individual responsible for collecting funds for the common pool.
The criminal organizations increasingly resembled legitimate businesses: shell companies like Iveria Express were used to launder money obtained from burglaries and other crimes. In addition, the mafia was actively involved in illegal operations with cars, weapons, and goods, and was entering the field of sports betting.
Investigators paid special attention to the scheme used to profit from match-fixing. Members of the organization placed bets on minor tennis, basketball, hockey, and beach volleyball tournaments, knowing the results in advance thanks to insider information. A contact in Russia was responsible for obtaining this data, which he sold to his Spanish contacts. For placing bets, so-called ‘mules’ were used—people who personally placed money in betting shops.
In some cases, athletes deliberately lost matches in exchange for rewards. This allowed the mafia to win large sums by betting on high odds. Investigators documented specific instances where gang members coordinated their actions over the phone during sporting events.
In the end, the double murder case in Terrassa became the starting point for uncovering a major transformation of mafia structures in Spain. Power shifted to new players, and their methods of enrichment grew even more sophisticated and multi-layered.
