The Spanish Guardia Civil has successfully recovered 40 luxury rental vehicles that were stolen from various countries within the European Union. These vehicles were subsequently transported to Spain, where the criminals falsified their registration documents and sold them on the second-hand market.
As a result of an investigation dubbed ‘Sescar,’ eight individuals have been arrested and are facing charges of falsification of public documents, receipt of stolen goods, and fraud. The investigation, which commenced in October 2024, involved document analysis by the Central Traffic Investigation Group of the Civil Guard, along with information obtained from various provincial traffic headquarters and ITV (vehicle inspection) stations.
The criminal network stole the vehicles through rental contracts in several European countries. They recruited homeless individuals, offering them monetary incentives to use their personal documentation, enabling the criminals to acquire the vehicles. The stolen cars were then illegally brought into Spain and registered using forged documentation to avoid paying taxes.
After registering the vehicles in Spain, the criminals would report them as stolen, notifying the rental companies to evade monthly payments on the rentals. The vehicles obtained legal status in Spain by acquiring the necessary documentation from the ITVs. This process allowed them to obtain a technical inspection card. They were subsequently registered at different provincial headquarters, securing new national registrations, which made tracking the vehicles much more difficult as they had acquired new identities. The operation has so far led to the recovery of all 40 stolen vehicles.
The Guardia Civil’s operation highlights the sophistication of the criminal enterprise and the effectiveness of collaboration between law enforcement agencies. Investigation continues.
