Recovered more than 1,000 stolen vehicles and 230 people arrested in a global macro-operation

In Spain, agents have arrested 86 people and have seized 191 vehicles in Algeciras, Alicante, La Junquera, Madrid and Malaga

The approximate value of the recovered vehicles -which were stolen in just two weeks- amounts to more than 35 million euros; Likewise, the investigation has allowed the intervention of numerous documents and 480,000 stolen cigarettes

Agents of the National Police have participated in an operation that, coordinated by INTERPOL and in which police authorities belonging to 77 countries have intervened, have recovered more than 1,000 stolen vehicles and 230 people arrested worldwide. In Spain, agents have arrested 86 people and have seized 191 vehicles in Algeciras, Alicante, La Junquera, Madrid and Malaga. The approximate value of the recovered vehicles -which were stolen in just two weeks- amounts to more than 35 million euros; Likewise, the investigation has allowed the intervention of numerous documents and 480,000 stolen cigarettes.

The investigations began thanks to inspections carried out by agents at border posts, vehicle dealerships, scrap yards and workshops. In this sense, they detected a significant number of stolen vehicles, as well as a large number of parts prepared to be sold on the black market. This led to new investigations into criminal organizations operating on a global scale. 

The operation has been supported by INTERPOL -collating in its international databases the information collected on the ground regarding vehicles and owners, and collaborating in the exchange, analysis and action of said information- and by FRONTEX, mainly in the ports of Algeciras and Alicante. 

Illicit traffic of vehicles to finance other criminal acts

Stolen vehicles are often trafficked for the purpose of financing and committing other crimes such as drug or arms trafficking, human trafficking or corruption. For this reason, INTERPOL is analyzing the information collected during the investigation to determine possible links to other criminal areas. However, the steps taken to date have allowed those arrested to be charged with the alleged commission of numerous criminal acts, including belonging to a criminal group, theft of vehicles, misappropriation, forgery of documents and reception.

The macrooperation carried out worldwide, in which police forces from 77 countries have participated, has ended with the arrest of 230 people of different nationalities, proving that eight of them were dedicated to human trafficking. In addition, 1,185 vehicles have been recovered -cars, trucks and motorcycles- stolen in just two weeks, whose approximate value amounts to more than 35 million euros. Numerous falsified documentation and 480,000 stolen cigarettes have also been seized.

191 vehicles recovered and 86 people arrested in Spain

During the operation, agents have carried out numerous checks in Spain at the ports of Alicante and Algeciras (Cádiz), as well as at the border crossings of La Junquera (Girona) and Tuy (Pontevedra). As a result of these controls, the National Police has identified 900 vehicles and 620 people.

On the other hand, the agents have also carried out inspections throughout the national territory in dealerships for the sale of vehicles, repair workshops and industrial buildings used for cutting them up.

As a result of all the police efforts carried out, the agents have intervened in our country 191 vehicles, and have arrested 86 people in Algeciras (9), Alicante (24), La Junquera (1), Madrid (45) and Malaga (7) .