Lorraine Williamson
The Guardia Civil has investigated three individuals for their alleged involvement in vehicle theft, handling stolen goods, and document fraud in relation to cars affected by DANA and later sold as parts in Granada.
The case emerged following a complaint from a vehicle owner whose car had disappeared from a storage area designated for DANA-flood-damaged vehicles in Ribarroja de Turia. The stolen vehicle was later found at a scrapyard in Granada, where its parts were being sold online for €35,000 without the owner’s knowledge or consent.
Investigation and discovery of stolen vehicles
Further investigations led to the discovery of additional vehicles from the DANA disaster being processed for resale. These cars had been transported to the scrapyard by a towing company from Granada, responsible for moving damaged vehicles to Authorised Treatment Centres (CATs). However, the vehicles had not been officially decommissioned, and their removal lacked the necessary legal approvals.
Scale of the operation
During inspections at the Dólar scrapyard in Granada, the Guardia Civil identified 107 vehicles, all appearing to originate from the DANA catastrophe in Valencia. Among them, 12 cars had been reported stolen by their owners.
The authorities are continuing investigations to determine if more vehicles were unlawfully acquired and why they were stored outside authorized locations.
Volume of vehicles damaged by DANA in Valencia
The recent DANA storm in Valencia caused extensive damage to vehicles across the region. Reports estimate that approximately 120,000 vehicles were affected by severe flooding.
Of these, around 30,000 were transported to authorised scrapyards for proper disposal, but some were removed without their owners’ consent, leading to investigations into illegal activities involving these flood-damaged cars.
The Insurance Compensation Consortium (CCS) has received over 138,000 claims related to the DANA event, with more than 83,000 concerning motor vehicles, highlighting the widespread impact on personal and commercial transportation.
In total, nearly 500,000 vehicles are registered in the regions hit by the DANA flooding.
Also read: Vehicles still awaiting removal in DANA-hit Valencia
Legal action and ongoing investigation
As part of Operation “Dark Soul”, the Guardia Civil carried out seven inspections at industrial warehouses in Dólar, Granada. The three suspects have been placed under investigation for alleged vehicle theft, handling stolen goods, and falsifying documents.
The operation was conducted by officers from the Valencia and Granada commands, and legal proceedings have been forwarded to the Court of First Instance and Instruction No. 8 of Llíria (Valencia).
The case remains open as investigators work to uncover the full extent of the network involved in the illegal trade of flood-damaged vehicles.