Dismantled network in Málaga that was manufacturing fake UK driving licences
The National Police arrest two ringleaders, of British and Ukrainian nationality, in Mijas Costa and Marbella. 592 forged documents and more than €56,000 in cash are seized.
Criminal network on the Costa del Sol produced up to 100 fake driving licences a day
Officers from the National Police have dismantled an international criminal organisation in Mijas Costa and Marbella dedicated to manufacturing and distributing fake United Kingdom driving licences, according to interior.gob.es. The operation resulted in the arrest of two alleged ringleaders—of British and Ukrainian nationality—and the seizure of 592 forged documents, more than €56,000 in cash and a clandestine laboratory with capacity to produce up to a hundred licences a day.
The network charged around €300 for each forged licence and used legitimate courier companies to send the documentation abroad. The operation was conducted with the collaboration of the Border Security Command of the United Kingdom Embassy in Spain.
The origin: four postal shipments intercepted by British authorities
The investigation began following a warning from British authorities, who detected and intercepted four postal parcels coming from Spain containing a total of 287 forged United Kingdom driving licences. The discovery pointed to a continuous flow of fraudulent documentation destined primarily for the British market.
Based on that information, investigators centred their efforts on a network based on the Costa del Sol. Police inquiries made it possible to identify both the members of the organisation and the premises where they produced the documents and managed all the shipping logistics.
During the investigation phase, officers intercepted an additional postal parcel linked to the suspects. Following the corresponding judicial authorisation and its opening, another 101 forged licences were found inside. With this action, the National Police managed to seize a total of 388 fraudulent documents before moving to the operational exploitation phase.
Distribution through legitimate courier services to various European countries
The organisation placed the documents in individual envelopes addressed to both end purchasers and intermediaries responsible for their redistribution. Investigators confirmed that numerous envelopes included documentation with different personal details from those of the recipient, a tactic designed to hinder police tracing.
Although the United Kingdom was the main destination, shipments were also sent to Italy, Germany, France and Saudi Arabia. The price set for each forged licence was around €300, and the high volume of production enabled the organisation to obtain considerable financial profits.
Investigators determined that the clientele was mainly resident in the United Kingdom, a country where the driving licence typically functions as an identity document for administrative and financial procedures. This function facilitated the use of the forgeries for illicit activities such as fraudulent opening of bank accounts or the acquisition of goods.
Industrial laboratory with high-precision machinery
The final phase of the operation concluded with three entries and searches of premises linked to the organisation, as well as the arrest of the two alleged persons responsible. The searches resulted in the seizure of more than €56,000 in cash, approximately €41,000 in cryptocurrencies, the 592 forged driving licences and abundant computing and documentary material.
Officers also located a clandestine laboratory equipped with high-precision industrial machinery: high-value laser and inkjet printers, thermal sealing die-cutters, precision scanners, laminators and materials typical of document forgeries, including OVI inks and security holograms. According to investigators, that infrastructure made it possible to produce up to a hundred documents a day.
PUNTO ATENAS, a quick-consultation resource for officers on duty
The operation has been classified under the Central Unit Against Illegal Immigration Networks and Documentary Forgeries of the National Police, which houses the so-called PUNTO ATENAS. This service functions as a quick-consultation centre for any officer who, in the course of their work, detects documents with signs of forgery or doubtful authenticity. Should the suspicions be confirmed, PUNTO ATENAS specialists issue a technical report with a digital signature that is incorporated into the case file, with the aim of providing a swift response to possible irregularities in identity documents.
Source: Google News ES — Crime (es)