A 40-year-old man wanted for theft and fraud tied to a massive Desjardins data breach affecting 9.7 million members was arrested in Spain after evading Quebec police for over a year
Arrest Made in Desjardins Data Breach Case
A man wanted by Quebec provincial police for the Desjardins data breach has been arrested in Spain. This breach affected nearly 10 million members and occurred over two years.
Details of the Arrest
Sûreté du Québec (SQ) announced on Tuesday that Juan Pablo Serrano, 40, was arrested by Spanish authorities on Nov. 6, 2025. This followed a joint operation involving police in Spain, the SQ, and Interpol.
Charges Against Serrano
Serrano had been sought since June 2024 by the SQ’s financial crime and cybercrime units. He is accused of theft and resale of personal information belonging to 9.7 million members of Desjardins Group, one of Canada’s largest financial institutions.
Police allege that Serrano purchased stolen data from a former Desjardins employee and used it for various fraud schemes.
International Cooperation
Interpol issued a Red Notice for Serrano. This notice requests police worldwide to help find and temporarily detain a person pending extradition or similar legal action.
Quebec police considered him one of the province’s most-wanted fugitives.
Next Steps
Authorities state that Serrano will remain in custody in Spain while extradition proceedings begin to return him to Canada. Once back, he is expected to face multiple charges, including identity theft, trafficking in identity information, and fraud over $5,000.
Collaboration Acknowledged
The SQ credited Spanish authorities, Interpol, and several national and international partners for the arrest. This includes the U.S. Secret Service Ottawa Field Office and its Madrid Resident Office, whose contributions were vital to the operation’s success.
Background on the Data Breach
The Desjardins data breach was first uncovered in 2019. It exposed the personal information of millions of members and is one of the largest privacy breaches in Canadian history.
