Agents of the Spanish National Police have dismantled a criminal organization allegedly dedicated to the theft of catalysts from vehicles throughout the national territory.
Article continues below
A total of 29 people have been arrested in the provinces of Malaga, Madrid and Toledo and 15 simultaneous searches have been carried out.
The members of the group distributed the catalysts directly to companies located in the community of Madrid and to one, located in Malaga, which exported this product to Houston (United States).
They were mainly based in Madrid, from where they traveled throughout the Spanish geography to commit criminal acts.
The investigation began last August in Malaga, after the arrest of several people for committing theft of catalysts. After these arrests, the agents focused on a criminal organization dedicated to the theft and subsequent distribution of catalysts nationally and internationally.
This criminal group, of an itinerant nature, committed criminal acts throughout the entire Spanish geography, the speed with which they acted being remarkable. They took a few minutes to steal the piece and returned the same day to their usual addresses.
They exported the catalysts to Houston, the United States.
The researchers have managed to identify the different companies involved in receiving the catalysts, from the first steps, which were merchants located in the Community of Madrid that bought the product directly, to the final company, located in Malaga, which was dedicated to export these catalysts abroad, specifically to Houston, in the state of Texas (the United States).
These companies falsified the invoices for the sale of catalysts, thus trying to regularize them in the legal tender market.
As a result of this investigation, the agents were able to identify the members of the organization and find out their involvement in the events, arresting a total of 29 people, including the members of the organization in charge of stealing the catalysts, as well as those responsible for the reception of the same and the documentary falsification related to the sale.
After being made available to the judicial authority, six of the most important active members of the criminal organization were placed in pretrial detention.
15 searches have been carried out simultaneously in the provinces of Madrid, Malaga and Toledo in which a large number of catalysts and tools have been seized for their theft, 40,000 euros in cash, a firearm and ammunition, as well as documentation related to the illegal activity.
Of the total number of arrests, 16 have been carried out in the city of Madrid, three in San Fernando de Henares, two in Leganés, one in Getafe, one in Torrejón de Ardoz, four in Málaga, and one in the Toledo town of Seseña. and another in Talavera de la Reina.
In addition, six searches have been carried out in the capital Madrid, two in Getafe, one in San Fernando de Henares, one in Torrejón de Ardoz, one in Leganés, three in Málaga and one in Seseña.
The investigation has made it possible to clarify a total of 501 acts committed in the different provinces to which those investigated traveled. One of the most active members of the organization is accused of up to 43 criminal acts. ■