The operation, named Grzech, has led to the seizure of 17 stolen vehicles and another 21 used for illicit activities. The detainees, 13 men and 6 women aged between 31 and 63, face charges including vehicle theft using technological devices, membership in a criminal organization, document and currency forgery, drug trafficking, and money laundering.
The investigation began in October 2025, following four vehicle thefts within two days in the Alicante province, where a common modus operandi was detected. The suspects used a radio frequency system to clone smart keys, stealing cars in seconds without forcing entry. Agents identified two illegal workshops, a garage, and an industrial warehouse linked to the organization, allegedly used to alter vehicles before their sale abroad.
An industrial warehouse in Bigastro has been identified as the operations center, where high-end vehicles were hidden and a video surveillance system was installed. In the same warehouse, a clandestine laboratory for preparing drugs for export was discovered. Equipment for vehicle manipulation and drug trafficking, including key cloning systems, tools for altering chassis and license plates, drones, and frequency jammers, has been seized.
The operation involved 16 searches across the province of Alicante and the Region of Murcia, including locations such as Algorfa, Bigastro, Guardamar, Muchamiel, Orihuela, San Juan, San Miguel de Salinas, Torrevieja, and Cartagena. Fifty license plates from various European nationalities, used to falsify the identity of stolen vehicles, were confiscated.
In addition to materials related to the thefts, 40,000 euros in cash, 350 counterfeit euros, and various quantities of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and hashish were seized. Equipment for analyzing, weighing, and packaging narcotics was also recovered, reinforcing the drug trafficking investigation.
The proceedings have been submitted to the Court of Torrevieja. Freedom with surveillance measures has been decreed for 16 detainees, while the other three have been remanded in custody due to European extradition warrants.
