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ARCHIVED - International luxury car theft ring shut down in Alicante with footballer one of 6 arrested
The high-end vehicles were stolen in Europe and kept at a base in Alicante before being shipped to Morocco
Police have put the brakes on a criminal gang that lived a luxury lifestyle on the Costa Blanca allegedly financed by selling high-end vehicles stolen across Europe which were then stored at a base in Alicante before being sold in Morocco.
Six people of Spanish, Moroccan and Swiss nationality have been arrested in Mutxamel, Alicante; three men and three women aged between 21 and 35. One of the men is a 30-year-old Moroccan footballer who played in the Luxembourg league last year.
They were arrested on October 28 after police set up an 'interception operation' when they were driving in two cars stolen in Italy and Poland.
Apparently, the gang would store the vehicles in Alicante for a "cooling off" period. Once re-registered, they were shipped to Morocco.
During the investigation, police discovered two of the gang members paid more than 2,500 euros in monthly rentals for two villas on an urbansation in Mutxamel, one of which was used as a base from which to run the operation.A third property was rented out for 2,000 euros a month in Aiges.
According to the Guardia Civil, the arrestees all enjoyed a luxurious standard of living, despite there being no record of legal earnings, driving expensive cars and wearing designer clothes and jewellery.
In raids at the three properties, police seized watches worth around 40,000 euros, a large quantity of high-end clothing and hashish.
On October 30, the six detainees appeared before San Vicente Magistrate's Court charged with trafficking in stolen cars, drug trafficking and membership of a criminal organisation. They were released with charges, pending trial.
The two seized vehicles have been returned to their legitimate owners, in their countries of origin, with the collaboration of Italian and Polish authorities. Investigations are continuing in order to locate a further three vehicles the police believe the gang stole and possibly sold on.
Image: Guardia Civil
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