Hundreds of fake UK driving licences seized in Mijas after Costa del Sol police raid

National Police officers have dismantled an international criminal organisation based in the Malaga towns of Mijas and Marbella where members focused on the large scale production and sale of forged United Kingdom driving licences.

British alert alerts Spanish investigation

Police in the UK spotted and intercepted four postal packages from Spain with two hundred and eighty-seven fake driving licences inside. Such finds pointed to ongoing illegal document flows and directed enquiries to the Costa del Sol.

Agents worked with the Border Security Command from the United Kingdom Embassy in Spain to locate and shut down a hidden laboratory fitted with high-precision industrial equipment. Equipment in the facility allowed criminals to make up to one hundred fake identifications each day.

Illegal documents sent via regular delivery firms

Criminals used ordinary parcel and courier firms to send fakes to buyers across countries. Each document went into individual envelopes with false details to avoid police tracking. Buyers paid about €300 per licence. Most shipments headed to Britain with others going to Italy, Germany, France and Saudi Arabia. Buyers often use these documents as proof of identity for official and financial matters in Britain.

Raids recover hundreds of fakes plus cash and crypto

Spanish police officers performed three property searches in the final phase and found a parcel with one hundred and one finished identifications ready to send. Police recovered five hundred and ninety-two fake driving licences in total. They seized over €56,000 in cash and nearly $41,000 in cryptocurrencies. Seized equipment featured laser printers, heat sealing punches, precision scanners, special inks and kinegrams (hologram printers).

Two ringleaders arrested in coordinated operation

Two individuals now face immediate detention as suspected heads of the criminal network. One holds British citizenship and the other comes from Ukraine. Both face accusations of directing the operation from the Costa del Sol.