National Police have arrested five people in Elche accused of defrauding gold buying businesses and pawn shops with counterfeit jewellery designed to look like solid gold. The suspects, four men and one woman aged between 40 and 48, are being investigated for alleged ongoing fraud and membership of a criminal group.

The investigation began after several business owners reported that items sold or pawned as gold later proved to be low-value metals coated with a thick layer of gold. Police say the coating was substantial enough to pass routine initial tests, leading shops to pay far more than the items were truly worth.

At least nine fraudulent operations were carried out in July, either through direct sales or pawn agreements at various establishments in Elche. In some cases, the suspects reportedly used a recoverable pawn method, returning later to complete a full sale once the item had been accepted as genuine.

Officers say the group acted in a coordinated manner, spreading transactions across different premises and days to avoid suspicion. Several pieces of jewellery and related evidence have been seized, and some items have been recovered from affected shops. The five suspects have been brought before the duty investigating court in Elche.