National Police officers visited the National Center for Oncological Research (CNIO) headquarters in Madrid on Monday to collect documentation requested by the Madrid Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office. The action is part of an inquiry into an alleged scheme of rigged contracts that may have siphoned off 20 million euros over a decade. The Ministry of Science clarifies that it was not a raid, but a voluntary handover of information.
The National Center for Oncological Research (CNIO), Spain's leading cancer research institution, is at the heart of a corruption probe. On Monday, December 22, 2025, officers from the Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) of the National Police visited the CNIO headquarters to obtain documentation requested by the Madrid Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office. According to the Ministry of Science, under which the center operates, the action was a 'formal request for information' and not a search. The officers took a hard drive with the required documents, without seizing computers or other devices.
The complaint, filed by a former executive dismissed in August with disciplinary proceedings, accuses the former CNIO manager, Juan Arroyo—who held the position for over 15 years—and other employees of orchestrating a network of rigged contracts awarded to affiliated companies. The whistleblower estimates that around 20 million euros may have been siphoned from public funds over the past decade. Highlighted firms include Gedosol, founded by the former HR head and recipient of over 15 million in contracts; Zeus SL, created by the ex-technical director with 5.4 million in billing; and Alaos ITL SL, linked to the former procurement director, which invoiced 11 million. These companies, per the 120-page complaint previewed by El Mundo on November 16, had the CNIO as their sole client and won nearly all bids they entered.
Arroyo denies the allegations. The CNIO's board of trustees, chaired by Eva Ortega Paíno with Minister Diana Morant as honorary president, dismissed Arroyo and director María Blasco in January 2025 amid their conflict. Blasco, accused of workplace harassment—which she denies—was replaced by bioinformatician Raúl Rabadán from Columbia University. The scientist had previously reported Arroyo's alleged irregularities. The CNIO has an annual budget of 40 million euros, half funded by the Ministry of Science, which has pledged 'full cooperation with justice' and resolve against any misconduct.
The complaint points to patterns in contracting since 2007, such as chained contracts just below control thresholds (49,900 or 14,900 euros), per the Science Law and the center's internal guidelines. Satellite firms outsourced services previously handled by CNIO staff, strained by cuts, charging for unperformed tasks.
