29 people linked to an organization dedicated to the theft and export of vehicle catalysts arrested

MADRID, 18 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) -

National Police agents have arrested 29 people linked to a criminal organization allegedly dedicated to the theft of catalysts from vehicles throughout the national territory.

The arrests have been carried out in the provinces of Malaga, Madrid and Toledo, where there have also been 15 searches, as reported by the National Police in a statement.

The members of the group directly distributed the catalysts to companies located in the Community of Madrid, where they were based, and another located in Malaga, which exported this product to Houston (United States).

The investigation began last August in Malaga, after the arrest of several people for the commission of theft of catalysts, which put the agents behind the criminal organization, of an itinerant nature, that committed the criminal acts throughout throughout the entire Spanish geography.

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. These companies falsified the invoices for the sale of catalysts, thus trying to regularize them in the legal tender market.

The agents have also managed to identify the members of the organization and find out their involvement in the events, arresting the 29 people mentioned, including the members of the organization in charge of stealing the catalysts, as well as those responsible for receiving them. of the same and the documentary falsification related to the sale. For the moment, six of the most important active members of the organization have been placed in pretrial detention and one of the most active members of the group has been charged with up to 43 criminal acts.

Specifically, 16 arrests have occurred in the city of Madrid, three in San Fernando de Henares, two in Leganés, one in Getafe and another in Torrejón de Ardoz. In addition, four have been held in Malaga, one in the Toledo town of Seseña and another in Talavera de la Reina.

On the other hand, in the 15 registrations that have been carried out --six in 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-- , 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.

Thus, the investigation has made it possible to clarify a total of 501 acts committed in the different provinces to which those investigated traveled.