A man wanted by Ukrainian authorities for allegedly defrauding over €1 million in a bogus car import scheme has been arrested in the coastal city of Benidorm. National Police officers detained the suspect at the local immigration office while he was attempting to renew his foreigner identification card. A routine check of his identity against international databases revealed an active warrant for his arrest issued by Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian authorities, the man is accused of convincing 40 people in the Lviv region to invest in a fictitious vehicle import business between 2023 and 2024. After gaining their trust and securing the funds—equivalent to around $1.2 million or €1.06 million—he allegedly fled the country without delivering any vehicles or returning the money.
The case has caused significant financial harm to the victims, many of whom had invested their savings in what they believed was a legitimate business venture. Ukrainian prosecutors are pursuing charges of fraud, which could carry a maximum prison sentence of up to 12 years if he is convicted.
Spanish police confirmed that the international arrest warrant was still valid, having been issued by Ukrainian judicial authorities in February this year. Following his arrest, the man was placed in custody and brought before the Central Investigative Court of the Audiencia Nacional in Madrid, which will now oversee the extradition proceedings.
Benidorm, a popular tourist destination on Spain’s eastern coast, has in recent years become a haven not only for holidaymakers but also, at times, for individuals attempting to evade justice abroad. This latest arrest adds to a growing list of fugitives intercepted by Spanish law enforcement through routine checks and cooperation with international partners.
The suspect remains in custody while the Spanish judiciary processes the extradition request.
Spain has welcomed more than 190,000 Ukrainian nationals
Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Spain has welcomed more than 190,000 Ukrainian nationals fleeing the war, according to figures from the Ministry of the Interior. Most have been granted temporary protection status, which allows access to residency, employment, healthcare and education.
Regions such as Valencia, Madrid and Andalusia have become key destinations for this displaced population, largely composed of women, children and the elderly. However, among those arriving have also been individuals seeking to avoid ongoing legal proceedings in Ukraine by taking advantage of the turmoil.
In recent years, Spanish police have arrested several Ukrainian fugitives across the country, wanted for offences ranging from fraud and money laundering to involvement in organised crime.
In 2023, for instance, a Ukrainian businessman was detained in Marbella following a Europol alert, accused of siphoning off millions of euros through opaque financial operations. That same year, another Ukrainian national was arrested in Barcelona for his alleged role in an international document forgery network. Authorities in Spain emphasise that such cases remain the exception and highlight ongoing cooperation with Ukraine to tackle cross-border crime.
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