Russian mafioso linked to 33 murders arrested at Spanish-French border

The Civil Guard has arrested an alleged member of the Russian mafia sought for his involvement in at least 33 murders in his home country, the Interior Ministry has said.

Dmitry Zavyalov, who had an international arrest warrant against him, was detained on the Spanish-French border in the town of La Junquera, in Girona province, after visiting his partner who was vacationing in the Catalan resort town of Empuria Brava.

Reportedly linked to a Russian mafia organization devoted to trafficking weapons and explosives, Zavyalov was first located on Friday when he was spotted strolling around Empuria Brava in the company of the woman, who lives in France, and a child. He was subsequently placed under discreet surveillance.

Zavyalov is reportedly linked to a mafia organization devoted to trafficking weapons and explosives

Zavyalov had been sought as part of so-called Operation Maruqa, set up by the Civil Guard in collaboration with French National Police.

Having received information that warned of “the extreme danger” Zavyalov posed, officers followed him from the town of Castelló d’Empuries to the French border, where they approached him. He identified himself with a Ukrainian passport and a Belgian residency card in the name of D. K., according to a Civil Guard statement.

Fingerprints sent to the Russian authorities through Interpol confirmed Zavyalov’s identity. He was then arrested and ordered to be held in custody by the Spanish National High Court.