luxury car trafficking ring dismantled tenerife

Police Dismantle Luxury Car Trafficking Ring in Canaries

Major Police Operation Targets Criminal Network

A joint operation by the Guardia Civil and the National Police has successfully dismantled a criminal organisation dedicated to document forgery and the illicit trafficking of high-end vehicles in the Canary Islands. The investigation, which lasted over fifteen months, culminated in the arrest of six people and the seizure of 13 luxury cars. According to police sources, the ring operated by importing cars from abroad that had previously been stolen.

Complex Method to Avoid Detection

Once on Spanish soil, members of the group manipulated the vehicles’ documentation to give them an appearance of legality. The group used a complex modus operandi aimed at avoiding detection. After bringing the vehicles into Spain, they forged official documents and fitted duplicate number plates corresponding to other cars of identical make and model. In this way, the cars could circulate without raising suspicion. They were subsequently advertised on social media and offered for both sale and rental, generating significant illicit profits under a veneer of legitimacy.

House Search in El Médano Yields Evidence

The operational phase of the investigation included a house search in El Médano, in the municipality of Granadilla de Abona, Tenerife. During the raid, officers located a large amount of material linked to the criminal activity. Items seized included:

  • 16 vehicle keys
  • 8 technical data sheets
  • 6 vehicle registration documents
  • 2 foreign number plates
  • 12 mobile phones
  • 40 SIM cards
  • 3 laptop computers
  • €15,050 in cash

All this material was hidden in different rooms of the property. Furthermore, a vehicle whose number plate did not match its real data was found outside the building and was also seized.

Arrests Made and Investigation Continues

In total, the security forces arrested six people, including the main suspect. The latter was brought before the courts and released on bail pending trial. During the operation, thirteen high-end vehicles were seized, although inquiries remain open to locate more cars involved and determine if other collaborators within the network exist.

Authorities Praise Joint Effort and Public Role

The investigation was carried out by officers from the Investigation Area of the Playa de las Américas Main Post (Guardia Civil) and the Local Judicial Police Brigade of the southern Tenerife police station (National Police). The authorities highlighted the importance of public collaboration in detecting this type of crime, especially when it involves suspicious vehicle movements or irregular transactions. The Guardia Civil reminds the public that anyone can provide information confidentially through its dedicated online channel: Guardia Civil citizen collaboration.

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