Spain: Former Sánchez Driver Arrested in Corruption Probe

Spain's Central Operational Unit (UCO) has arrested the former driver of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and searched the home of José Luis Ábalos as part of an investigation into alleged rigging of public works contracts, according to ABC. The operation focuses on public procurement as the core of the case.

The Civil Guard's elite anti-corruption unit, the UCO, detained **Pedro Sánchez**'s former chauffeur and raided **José Luis Ábalos**' residence, as reported by **ABC**. The inquiry centers on suspicions of collusion in public infrastructure projects. Both the search and arrest are part of a legal effort to determine if favoritism occurred in contract awards.

## Scope of Investigation and Key Figures

The UCO, a specialized branch of the Civil Guard handling economic crimes and corruption, leads the proceedings. The detainee is Sánchez's former driver, a trusted aide during his tenure at La Moncloa. The search targeted Ábalos, former Minister of Transport and former PSOE Organization Secretary. The primary suspicion involves bid-rigging schemes designed to steer public contracts.

## Operation Details

The crackdown combines arrests with home searches. The raid on Ábalos' property is the most visible action. The case remains under secrecy or in its initial phase, so no further details regarding formal charges have emerged. The UCO operates under the direction of the competent court.

## Political Significance

Ábalos was a central figure in the PSOE and government until his departure in 2021. The UCO's search of his home and the arrest of a presidential ex-driver significantly raise the political profile of the case. Public works involve billions of euros annually in Spain and remain a sector historically vulnerable to corruption. Any probe into bid-rigging strikes a sensitive nerve.