Podcast Summary: Más de Uno (Onda Cero)

Episode: La dura historia de los niños sicarios al servicio de la Mocro Maffia
Date: February 9, 2026
Host/Contributors: Luis, Manu, Iñaki Domínguez

Overview

This episode delves into the alarming phenomenon of child hitmen (“niños sicarios”) being recruited by the Mocro Maffia, one of the world’s most powerful criminal organizations. The conversation combines investigative rigor with the characteristic lighter tone of the show, unpacking recent cases in Spain and Europe, the recruitment process, and the harrowing mechanics behind these crimes.

Luis, Manu, and guest Iñaki Domínguez (author and criminology expert) break down Europol’s initiative to confront young contract killers and detail shocking real cases—focusing notably on recruitment methods and the reasons why organized crime increasingly turns to minors.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. La Mocro Maffia: Su auge y presencia en Europa y España

• The Mocro Maffia, originating from Northern Europe (notably the Netherlands and Belgium), is now the most powerful criminal organization on the continent and is firmly embedded in Spain.
  • "La Mocromafia se ha convertido en la organización criminal más poderosa del mundo... ya reinan en todo el continente y, por supuesto, también en España." (Manu, 01:26)
• Its power is exemplified by high-profile legal incidents in Spain and its ability to operate freely throughout Europe.

2. Europol’s Grupo Operativo Grimm: Combating Child Hitmen

• Spain has recently joined Europol's “Operativo Grimm”, a joint initiative ironically named after the Brothers Grimm due to the “fairy-tale gone wrong” aspect.
  • "El grupo nació cuando varios países europeos constataron esa existencia de asesinos menores de edad... reclutados siempre a través de redes sociales o incluso a través de plataformas de videojuegos." (Iñaki Domínguez, 02:23)
• In its first six months, Grimm led to 193 arrests tied to contract killings or attempted killings involving minors, including 63 direct perpetrators and 84 recruiters.
  • "Este grupo de trabajo de Europol había posibilitado 193 arrestos vinculados a asesinatos por encargo..." (Manu, 03:08)

3. Edades y métodos de reclutamiento: Aterradora precocidad

• The youngest hitman identified was just 12 years old—an unprecedented development in Europe, previously only seen in certain Latin American regions. (Iñaki Domínguez, 02:59)
• Recruitment occurs via social media and gaming platforms, exploiting young people's digital presence.

4. Casos ejemplares en España

• Caso Fuengirola: (03:59–06:07)
  • December 2024: A 25-year-old was mistakenly killed at a club’s entrance. The shooter, Shah—a 17-year-old Belgian—was recruited from the Netherlands, flown to Malaga, armed, and directed to the victim.
  • "Entre ellos al que disparó, al menor de edad, un ciudadano belga de 17 años que se llama Shah." (Manu, 04:34)
  • Shah escaped via bicycle and was later apprehended in Belgium, extradited to Spain. The operation revealed a complex international network, including women who had transported the murder weapon from Paris.
• Segundo caso Sueco: (06:11–07:40)
  • Spring 2024: Spanish authorities, tipped off by Swedish police, intercepted a 17-year-old sent to kill a biker gang member in Benalmadena. Detained before the murder, he was linked to a wider recruitment network run by a 15-year-old Swede based in Alicante.
  • The recruiter used Telegram/Signal under aliases like "The Recruiter" and even "Donald Trump".
  • "La red de búsqueda de chavales asesinos la dirigía un ciudadano sueco de 15 años que vivía en Alicante... recibía encargos criminales de toda Europa" (Manu, 07:33)
• Tercer caso Sueco: (09:37–10:47)
  • June–July 2025: A 16-year-old and a 19-year-old from Göteborg arrived in Fuengirola. Under surveillance, they were detained before they could execute the hit, with loaded pistols and logistical facilitators found in Marbella.
  • Continual mention is made of the “flight corridor” from Sweden to Málaga.
  • "Esa línea de Suecia a Málaga está... muy fluido, ese puente aéreo está muy fluido." (Manu, 10:47, 10:50)

5. Causas: Por qué buscan menores

• Low sentences: Juvenile offenders face far lighter penalties than adults.
  • "Por eso contratan sicarios menores, por las bajas penas a las que se enfrentan.” (Unknown Host/Contributor, 08:56)
• Cost: Minors charge much less—2,000 to 3,000 euros per killing.
• Manipulability: Adolescents are easier to manipulate and keep in the dark regarding the real masterminds behind the contracts.

6. El insospechado rol de Suecia como exportador de menores sicarios

• The team expresses shock at Sweden's role, historically seen as a “welfare state,” now deeply infiltrated by organized crime. 20–30 Swedish minors are estimated to have left the country in 2024 to commit crimes across Europe.
  • “Ese país pasaba por ser el estado del bienestar, el símbolo de todo eso. Pero está devorado por el crimen organizado.” (Iñaki Domínguez, 09:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Grim Reality of Child Hitmen

  • “¿Pero como pequeñito? ¿De qué edades hablamos?” — Unknown Host/Contributor, 02:56
  • “El más joven detectado hasta ahora tiene 12 años. Y esto es algo que no había ocurrido nunca en Europa.” — Iñaki Domínguez, 02:59

• Shocking Organizational Reach

  • “Para que nos hagamos una idea, los tentáculos... Detuvieron en la capital holandesa tres mujeres que eran las que habían hecho de muleras de trasladar el fusil de asalto...” — Iñaki Domínguez, 05:16

• On Youth Recruitment Methods

  • “Se metía en Telegram y en Signal... y utilizaba nombres o alias como The Recruiter... o el último Donald Trump.” — Manu, 07:36

• On Crime Trends in Sweden

  • “Pero Suecia exporta este tipo de criminales... está devorado por el crimen organizado.” — Iñaki Domínguez, 09:37

Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Content | | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | 00:04 | Show opening and context introduction (skip) | | 01:12 | Episode theme announced: Child hitmen in Europe and Spain | | 01:26–03:08 | Rise of the Mocro Maffia & Europol’s “Operativo Grimm” | | 03:48–06:07 | Spanish cases: Fuengirola shooting, transnational logistics | | 06:11–08:25 | Second/Third case: Minors from Sweden, international criminal recruitment networks explored | | 08:56–09:31 | Why organized crime recruits minors: profit, manipulation, low sentences | | 09:37–10:50 | Sweden’s unexpected criminal export and more cases (Swedes in Málaga) | | 10:52–11:06 | Reflections, episode wraps up with further investigative promises |

Summary

The episode exposes the growing and deeply disturbing trend of minors being enrolled as contract killers, particularly by the omnipresent Mocro Maffia. Through concrete cases, especially in Spain’s Costa del Sol, the hosts illustrate not just the violence, but the sophistication and scale of transnational networks using teenagers for deadly assignments—made possible through online recruitment and exploitation. Sweden’s surprising prominence in this crime web adds further urgency.

The team stresses that while lower sentences for young offenders are a primary driver, the complexity, low cost, and ease of psychological manipulation significantly exacerbate the problem, painting a bleak portrait of organized crime’s evolution in Europe.