The Guardia Civil of Alicante has taken apart an industrial warehouse in Cabanes (Castellón) that was used as a base of operations and storage space for a criminal group that stole, manipulated, and illegally exported high-end cars. They also committed robberies with force, including one that stole 1.5 million euros’ worth of cycling equipment, which has almost all been recovered.
During the operation, police arrested a 54-year-old Ukrainian male and a 35-year-old Georgian guy in Oropesa del Mar and held them without bail. Police have also found a third adult male who is engaged in the case and is waiting to be arrested.
The investigation began in October 2025, following the theft of a car in the city of Alicante. It was led by the Heritage Team of the Organic Unit of Judicial Police (UOPJ) of the Guardia Civil Command of Alicante.
Agents were able to find an industrial warehouse in Cabanes with superior security systems and 24-hour surveillance by following this car.
Cars that have been stolen
Investigators determined that stolen cars were being kept in the building after making a number of enquiries. A criminal group located on the Levante coast was behind this operation. They stole high-end cars, messed with the chassis and control components, and then shipped them to other European nations with fake licence plates.
In certain situations, the group used their cars to rob businesses, which showed how skilled and organised they were.
The agents saw cars coming and going all the time while they were watching, and they also saw specialised equipment for die-cutting frames, which proved that illegal activity was going on.
The inquiry found that the gang was involved in a heist in the town of Urnieta (Guipúzcoa) in September. The offenders entered into a store that sells sporting goods and stole high-end cycling gear worth about 1.5 million euros. They used numerous stolen cars to do this.
On October 22nd, a search warrant was carried out at the Cabanes industrial warehouse with all the information that had been acquired. Inside, officers found practically all of the stolen sports equipment, more than 1,500 cartons worth 1.45 million euros, which were stolen in Urnieta.
Four stolen cars from the provinces of Alicante, Castellón, Málaga, and Valencia were also taken, along with a number of items that might be used to change cars and make fake number plates.
An OBD-type diagnostic tool, used to electronically control cars, eight sets of false licence plates, fake vehicle paperwork, and fake chassis identification plates were among the things that were seized.
The detainees were taken to the Castellón duty court, where they were charged with being part of a criminal organisation, stealing with force, four counts of stealing a vehicle and falsifying documents, both for using fake paperwork to rent the warehouse and for changing the chassis and licence plates of the vehicles.
The Oropesa del Mar Main Post and the Organic Unit of the Judicial Police of Castellón have helped the detectives, but they don’t think the operation is over yet. This means that more arrests or new crimes being linked to the organisation that was broken up are still possible.
Author: Derek Appleton
Other Articles
Man arrested for setting bins alight at night in El Campello
No Comment! Be the first one.