GUARDIA CIVIL have arrested 11 Lithuanians and one Russian as part of an operation codenamed Olivar, carried out in Almeria and Alicante. The detainees were part of an established criminal organization which stole luxury cars, changed their appearance and other details, and then sold them in Eastern Europe, as well as trafficking with cocaine and hashish bought with the money obtained from selling the cars.

The operation began in late 2007, after analyzing documents seized in similar operations. Police identified several members of the group, putting them under constant surveillance, allowing them to learn their movements and places of residence as well as identify other members.

The gang stole documents for luxury vehicles from garages and showrooms, and then found similar vehicles to steal, first deactivating alarm systems.

Then, their own mechanics would changes the plates and chassis numbers to coincide with the stolen documents and send them to Lithuania and Poland to be sold.

To prevent being discovered, they would rent homes on naturist reserves or luxury hotels and never settle in one area. The leader was a Lithuanian man who would travel from the country every week to give coordinate all the gang’s activities.

Two premises were searched in Almeria capital, one in El Ejido, two in Vera and one in Turre, as well as one in Pedreguer and one in Calpe and officers confiscated tools and electrical equipment for stealing and disguising vehicles, licence plates, stolen and forged documents, 32 luxury cars, mobile phones, one kilo of cocaine and 126 kilos of hashish, computer equipment and 50,000 euros.

via Euro Weekly News | Major car theft network dismantled in Alicante and Almeria.