Spanish police carried out 18 raids this week in a major crackdown on a gang laundering cash for the Russian Mafia.

A total of 23 people were arrested during the raids in Altea, Alicante, Finestrat, Ibiza, Madrid and Valencia which came following a seven-year investigation.

According to the Policia Nacional, the crime gang controlled key sectors of the Spanish economy and had infiltrated state institution.

The gang are believed to have masterminded a massive money-laundering operation for the Russian Mafia.

One of those arrested was a Ukrainian hacker accused of stealing more than a billion dollars from backs in 40 different countries in 2018.

During the raids, police found over EUR 300,000 in cash, an assortment of weapons and luxury cars.

It is claimed they had on their payroll lawyers, officials, politicians, businessmen and computer hackers.

The investigation - called Operation Testudo - began in 2013 when the agents first became aware that the Russian mafia were using “agents” to launder cash for criminal organizations from the former Soviet Union.