Spanish police arrested nine alleged members of Russian and Georgian crime gangs suspected of money laundering, a radio station said Thursday.

The arrests were carried out Wednesday in Madrid and the southern city of Malaga and mark the second phase of an operation that began in June and netted 28 arrests, Cadena Ser reported.

Police would not comment, but said they would issue a statement later.

The gangs are suspected of laundering money from criminal activities in the former Soviet Union by investing it in real estate, restaurants, bars, luxury cars and other assets in Spain, according to the Interior Ministry.

One leading, alleged Georgian crime boss, Zahar Knyazevich Kalashov, was arrested in Dubai on a Spanish warrant in May and extradited to Spain the next month.

Popularity: 1% [?]