• The vehicles arrived at the port of Algeciras in containers from other European ports.

• The market value of the recovered vehicles exceeds 650,000 euros

November 6, 2023.- Customs Surveillance Officers of the Tax Agency and members of the Civil Guard of the Tax Analysis and Investigation Office (ODAIFI), both attached to the Local Risk Analysis Unit (ULAR) of the Algeciras Customs, have intercepted 15 stolen vehicles at the facilities of the port of Algeciras.

As part of the risk analysis carried out in the port of Algeciras and following the operation “American Stuff” carried out at the beginning of the year, in which stolen cars from the United States were seized, ULAR detected new routes used by mafias to transport stolen vehicles to African countries.

As a result of the control, identification and inspection work on containers, destined for or in transit through Spain, which the ULAR carries out daily at the container terminal in the port of Algeciras and after a thorough analysis, the officials seized containers from other European ports, the content of which might not correspond to the declared merchandise, which led to the opening of the containers. Inside, 15 high-end vehicles were found, with a market value of over 650,000 euros.

Following the appropriate checks, the officers confirmed that the vehicles were stolen and they have already been returned to their countries of origin to be delivered to their respective owners.

Consequently, the corresponding proceedings have been initiated and made available to the Judicial Authority.