• Maritime containers containing stolen vehicles have been intercepted in the Canary Islands and Gambia to be sold fraudulently in different African countries

• Investigations begin with the theft of vehicles in Lleida, Girona and other provinces

• Within the framework of European police coordination mechanisms, it was discovered that the alleged perpetrators of the robberies had participated in similar events throughout Europe. Four men arrested and six vehicles seized

May 18, 2024.- The Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency, within the framework of a joint investigation with agents of the Generalitat Police-Mossos d'Esquadra of the Criminal Investigation Division (DIC) of the Western Police Region, has arrested four men in the last two weeks, between 29 and 47 years old, as alleged perpetrators of ten vehicle thefts and belonging to a criminal organization.

The arrests are the result of an investigation opened in October last year after a series of vehicle thefts were detected, of the same make and model, with an identical modus operandi. Specifically, between October 28 and 30, 2023, seven vehicles were stolen: two in Alpicat, two in Lleida, one in Montsó and two in Girona. Of these, two were recovered by the same owners using geolocation systems.

Subsequently, between 7 and 9 November, two more thefts in Almería were reported, presumably carried out by the same criminal organisation. During the investigation phase, it was discovered that behind these events there was a criminal organisation with European and African roots specialising in stealing cars with the aim of selling them fraudulently in different African countries.

They transported the stolen vehicles in maritime containers

Investigators found that the members of this criminal group were responsible for these robberies and that they had moved around different parts of Spain in a short space of time.

The thieves had specialized in stealing vehicles of the same make and model. Once stolen, they were parked in isolated areas to avoid raising suspicions and to ensure that they had not been discovered. Within the framework of European police coordination mechanisms, it was discovered that the alleged perpetrators of the robberies had participated in similar events throughout Europe.

The organisation then arranged for the vehicles to be shipped in maritime containers to Africa, where they were sold fraudulently to make significant financial profits.

Hierarchical criminal organization where each member had defined tasks

This criminal group was perfectly hierarchical, divided into three levels, where each of its members had a specific function. It was led by an individual who was in charge of directing the actions and managing the transport of the stolen vehicles by sea.

On the second level, there was the group of people who were in charge of carrying out the robberies. In this case, they were hired specifically for this role and travelled expressly from Europe.

Finally, in each area where they committed the robberies they had individuals who knew the terrain, selected the vehicles and provided the necessary information to carry out the robberies safely.

Two maritime containers with stolen vehicles intercepted

On November 28, in a coordinated action with the Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency in the Canary Islands, a container, which had been contracted by the criminal network, was intercepted in the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Inside they discovered that they were transporting three of the vehicles that had been stolen in the Lleida area.

Days later, thanks to the international customs efforts carried out by the General Subdirectorate of Customs Surveillance Operations of the Tax Agency, another container was intercepted in the port of Banjul (Gambia), by the country's port authorities, which was transporting three vehicles, two of which had been stolen in Almería and the third is being worked on to find out where it was stolen.

Finally, between April 24 and May 2, four men related to these events were arrested in Lleida. The investigation revealed that these detainees would be part of the third level of the organization.

The investigation is still open to arrest the rest of the members of this international criminal group. The four detainees were released after making statements at the police station, but are required to appear before the judge when required.