The scam, police say, involved a fake sheik, a small man hidden inside a desk, and $17.5 million in jewellery including a tiara that apparently belonged to Eva Peron of Argentina.
Spanish authorities said on Wednesday they have recovered 6 million euros in jewels stolen in the bizarre crime in the eastern city of Valencia.
As the "sheik" handed over stacks of euros to a jeweler by placing them in the drawers of desk at a business center, the small man hidden inside switched them with stacks in which only the first and last notes were real, police said.
Both parties went back to the jewellery shop where the gems were stored in order to complete the transaction. But when the jeweller tried to inspect the money again, the bogus sheik and another assistant accompanying him roughed her up, threatened to kill her, and fled with the loot.
The jewellery included a diamond tiara that apparently once belonged to Argentina's legendary late first lady, a police statement said.
Italian authorities last week announced the discovery of 6 million euros worth of the jewels in a hotel strong box in Milan, Italy. Wednesday's police statement said the jewels were back with Spanish authorities and gave details of how the 2009 con and robbery was pulled off.
