A suspected member of the notorious Pink Panther criminal network responsible for some of the most audacious heists in modern history has been arrested in Spain.

The Croatian national, who was not named, was detained by the Spanish police on an arrest warrant issued by the German authorities for stealing jewellery worth EUR 715,000 (GBP 612,744) in a series of violent robberies as a member of the Pink Panther gang.

The National Police said in a statement that the Croatian national was arrested in Barcelona on Friday, 1st October.

The suspect is accused of carrying out three violent robberies in three German cities with the Pink Panther gang in 2015 and 2016.

A total of EUR 715,000 (GBP 612,744) in jewellery and EUR 1,400 (GBP 1,198) in cash was stolen, and the suspect is accused of armed robbery, assault, and possession of illegal firearms.

The Pink Panther gang is a network of international jewel thieves with around 800 members who are believed to be responsible for some of the most daring and high-profile jewellery heists around the world.

The heists are meticulously planned and executed with military precision, which is why some of its members are believed to be retired soldiers from the former Yugoslavia.

Law enforcement agencies estimate that the group is responsible for robberies of gold and diamonds worth over USD 500 million (GBP 369 million) in over a dozen countries on four continents.

The group is allegedly responsible for the French Riviera jewel heist in 2013, which saw USD 136 million (GBP 100 million) worth of diamond-encrusted watches and gems stolen, making it one of the biggest jewellery heists ever carried out.

The Pink Panthers are reported to have a wide range of powerful criminal allies including the Serbian, Russian, Italian and Ukrainian mafia along with a number of high-profile criminal organisations.

The Spanish authorities have not given more information on the status of the suspect.