site.btaBulgarian Police Assist Spanish Investigation against International Crime Ring for Stealing Cars

Sofia, November 17 (BTA) - Bulgarian police have contributed actively to an investigation in Spain which has so far resulted in the arrest of 19 members of a criminal group which has been stealing cars and selling them to a number of European countries and the Middle East, the Bulgarian Interior Ministry reported on November 16.

The Europol-led law enforcement operation has been conducted mainly in Spain and has involved the Spanish Civil Guard and police from Portugal and Bulgaria.

The investigation which was launched by the Spanish authorities in 2016 led up to a Bulgarian national. This was followed by the exchange of information between the police services of Bulgaria and Portugal. The Bulgarian suspect was identified as a 59-year-old man with name initials V. P., who had been known to the Bulgarian police. He had been sued for car theft, stolen car sale and document forgery.

The Bulgarian authorities immediately shared the information with their Spanish peers and helped them prove the criminal activities of V. P. and the people around him. Some luxury cars stolen in Spain were detected and impounded in Bulgaria. Other illegal vehicles were also found.