Lorraine Williamson
The Guardia Civil has dismantled a roaming gang accused of stealing more than two tonnes of copper cable in La Rioja, thanks in part to a citizen tip-off that triggered a major pursuit across the Cameros region.
The theft took place between Cabezón de Cameros and Muro en Cameros, where the suspects allegedly cut and removed 2,730 metres of copper wiring from the telecoms network. Furthermore, the haul, weighing just over two tonnes, left significant damage to local communications infrastructure.
The operation, codenamed Garnata, unfolded when a resident reported a suspicious van and a car near Jalón de Cameros. Patrols were dispatched, spotting the two vehicles on the LR-245 road. The van was intercepted immediately, and its driver was caught with 2,027 kilos of stripped cable. Then, the car accelerated towards officers, forcing them to jump aside.
Violent escape and high-tech pursuit
The car, acting as a “lanzadera” or scout vehicle, fled the scene. A police cordon was set up across the area, with drone units from the PEGASO team scanning the rugged landscape. The abandoned car was later found near Villoslada de Cameros. It was packed with tools used for cable theft: bolt cutters, headlamps, gloves, and work gear designed for night raids.
Investigators believe the gang operated with precision. They chose isolated stretches of rural line, struck under cover of darkness, and relied on specialist equipment to cut and transport the heavy wiring.
Taxi to Bilbao – and a last-minute arrest
The two fugitives abandoned the car and tried to vanish by taking a taxi out of the mountains. Their plan failed in Logroño, where officers intercepted them at the train station as they attempted to board a service to Bilbao.
Both men, who already had lengthy criminal records, were arrested alongside the van driver. In addition to theft charges, the latter faces an extra count of falsifying documents after presenting a fake driving licence.
Copper theft – a national scourge
The case forms part of Spain’s “National Plan Against Copper Theft”, introduced after a surge in attacks on railway, telecoms, and power networks. Such crimes not only generate financial losses but can also leave towns and emergency services cut off from vital communications.
Police say the La Rioja arrests highlight the impact of public collaboration in tackling itinerant crime groups. The Guardia Civil credited the initial tip-off with preventing further damage.
Copper cable criminal organisation dismantled
Rising vigilance in rural Spain
Copper theft remains a recurring challenge across Spain, where criminal groups exploit remote terrain with high resale value of metal. Authorities continue to call on residents to report unusual activity near infrastructure, warning that these raids can disrupt daily life for entire communities.