Spanish Police Bust International Luxury Car Theft Ring

The dismantling of this network follows an investigation conducted since last April by the Unidad de Droga y Crimen Organizado (UDYCO), in collaboration with the agents of the border post of Algeciras. The investigation began after an unusual passage of luxury vehicles with temporary French license plates through the port of Algeciras towards Tangier, relays Diario Area.

Initially, two cars driven by French citizens of Senegalese origin were intercepted at the port of Algeciras. After checking, the agents found that the license plates of the vehicles were false. The modus operandi of this network consisted of putting false temporary French license plates on these vehicles to cross the border, and then reselling them with false papers on the black market in Africa, particularly in Morocco and Senegal.

As part of the Pikine operation, eleven people were arrested. The accused have no criminal record in Spain, but have a criminal record in France. The value of the eight high-end vehicles intercepted is estimated at around 500,000 euros. The Spanish police have passed on all this information to the French authorities in order to continue the investigations and arrest other members of the criminal network.