Almería's Civil Guard has dismantled a criminal group that operated from Almería and moved around the country to commit robberies, mainly to companies selling and distributing phytosanitary products. The criminals were apprehended within the framework of the Hammerok operation.
The investigation, carried out by the Roca Team of Alemería's Civil Guard, began after a series of robberies in the agricultural area of western Almeria. Authorities identified a pattern in the criminals' modus operandi: warehouses were robbed with the use of force, the loot was loaded into stolen vans with forged license plates, and the perpetrators were not afraid to use force in their getaway when detected by patrols, even ramming police and private vehicles.
Authorities recovered more than 250,000 euros in stolen material, including plant protection products, computers, cosmetic material, mobile phones, and a safe. The criminal group, based in Almería, also operated in other regions such as Málaga, Huelva, Murcia, Granada, Madrid, Huesca, Valladolid, Cáceres, and Badajoz. They committed more than 30 robberies and stole more than half a million euros.
Last week, the Civil Guard organized an operation with five simultaneous house searches. The Roca Team, territorial patrols, the citizen security unit, and the investigation teams participated in the operations. Three people were arrested and authorities seized tools, mobile phones, computers, televisions, watches, and material used for the thefts such as walkie-talkies, frequency inhibitors, GPS, security camera detectors, two vehicles, and about 10,000 euros in cash.
The proceedings, the material seized, and the detainees were handed over to the Court of First Instance and Preliminary Investigation No. 4 of Roquetas de Mar (Almería), which ordered them to be remanded in custody. The operation is still open and new arrests are not ruled out.
Source: lavozdealmeria.com