Spanish prosecutors have requested prison sentences ranging from five to 17.5 years for six people accused of running an illegal pet-trafficking network in Barcelona. The group was dismantled in a joint police operation in 2023. Prosecutors accuse its members of forming a criminal organization and cite animal cruelty alongside fraud and document falsification. They allege that puppies and kittens were brought from Eastern Europe, kept in poor conditions and sold through pet shops, breeders and a veterinary clinic, with some buyers receiving sick animals.
The prosecution alleges that companies were used to conceal profits and fund a luxury lifestyle, including a property in Dubai along with cars and watches. Prosecutors say at least 35 people were defrauded between 2018 and 2023. Buyers reportedly received animals that died soon after purchase or needed costly veterinary treatment. Some allegedly lost thousands of euros, while others received no compensation.
Investigators allege that documents were altered to change animals’ ages and help their sale. In one reported case, a woman paid €786 for a Jack Russell puppy that died three days later from preventable diseases. Another buyer reportedly spent nearly €4,000 on unsuccessful treatment for a Border Collie. Prosecutors also allege that some animals were sold to more than one buyer, with paperwork manipulated to conceal the fraud.
The indictment describes overcrowded, unsanitary facilities where animals allegedly suffered from untreated illnesses and injuries. At one breeding centre, inspectors reportedly found dogs and cats without adequate ventilation or lighting. They also found evidence of repeated breeding cycles without rest for female animals. A six-month-old dog was reportedly unable to stand after months of confinement. The veterinary clinic linked to the group was shut down in an operation involving local police, Mossos d’Esquadra, the National Police and the Guardia Civil.
The alleged ringleaders, identified as A. E. A. P. and C. P. B., face the longest requested sentences. Prosecutors allege that they oversaw the business and veterinary procedures despite lacking the necessary qualifications. The other defendants include a shop manager and a veterinarian accused of signing blank documents and neglecting animal care. A relative is alleged to have handled financial operations and money laundering. The group is also accused of possessing unlicensed firearms.
Authorities seized 35 animals described as being in poor health during the operation; many reportedly needed urgent veterinary care. Prosecutors are seeking prison terms and fines, along with restitution for defrauded clients. They are also seeking reimbursement of more than €287,000 to municipalities and animal-welfare groups that paid for the animals’ care. These are prosecution requests and allegations, not a final court ruling; the six defendants have not been convicted on the basis of the claims described here.
The case is part of a wider law-enforcement focus on alleged organized criminal activity in Spain. That includes the dismantling of a major bank-robbery gang across several provinces, detailed in this related report. The Barcelona investigation also illustrates the challenges posed by cross-border pet sales involving falsified paperwork, as well as complex business structures.
Separate reporting by El Caso later described six sick puppies found in Barcelona with allegedly manipulated microchips and intended for illegal sale. That report concerns a separate incident and does not establish a connection to the six defendants in this prosecution. Here, prosecutors allege that document falsification and animal mistreatment were basic to the trafficking operation. The specific rules said to have been breached will be for the court to determine.
