Andorran Luxury Watch Smuggler Freed After 6 Months in Jail

A 33-year-old Andorran resident accused of smuggling and money laundering linked to luxury watch sales has been released on provisional liberty after more than six months in preventive detention at La Comella penitentiary.

The man, detained in mid-October last year as part of Operation Cronos, walked free from the facility early Friday afternoon. The investigating judge granted the release at the request of his legal team, following a voluntary statement he made in recent weeks that provided additional details beyond his initial appearance after arrest.

Judicial sources indicated several factors influenced the decision, including the financial nature of the charges, which caused no direct harm or impact in Andorra and even generated significant tax revenue. The six-month detention period, combined with emerging inconsistencies in the police investigation—such as documented exports for some allegedly irregular transactions—also played a role. The suspect reportedly clarified that several high-profile deals involving international first-division footballers from Spain, Italy, and England were handled by his more experienced business partner, a claim police have been verifying through recent statements in Spain under rogatory commissions.

Release conditions include a weekly requirement to report to the Batllia, a prohibition on leaving Andorra, and the withdrawal of his travel documents. The judge simultaneously lifted a national arrest order against his partner, a former influencer from Valencia in an advanced stage of pregnancy, who had avoided traveling to Andorra despite her legal residency there. No updates were available on the partner's associate, also subject to an arrest order at the time.

The probe, centered on a network of high-end watch transactions with potential fiscal irregularities and smuggling, remains ongoing and is expected to be lengthy. Court records show professional footballers acquired watches worth around €1.3 million in total. Several players from Spain's top flight and other major European leagues have already testified in Spanish courts about their involvement, with more declarations scheduled in coming weeks to assess compliance with export and tax requirements. Authorities in Spain were initially notified but have shown waning interest, sources said.