Photo: Spanish Civil Guard

7 arrested as EUROPOL finds dozens of cloned payment cards destined for lorry drivers

A EUROPOL investigation that also involved officers from France and Spain has led to the arrest of 7 persons suspected of cloning cards to be used by lorry drivers working for fraudulent companies.

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Photos released by Spain’s Civil Guard show cloning machines seized by officers as well as 185 cards cloned or ready to be cloned. Officers also seized 2 firearms, plus fake euro notes totalling €1,200, as well as €6,000 worth of legitimate banknotes.

Two of the aforementioned seven arrests were made in Reus (Tarragona), in addition to one in Castellón, one in Zaragoza, one in Martorell (Barcelona) and two in Las Landas (France).

The investigation found that the same companies who had been using the cloned cards for fuel were also responsible for tobacco smuggling.

According to Spanish road transport website El Diario De Transporte, which cites police sources, the investigation uncovered a corporate structure that was devised so the company benefiting from the fraud could evade legal responsibility for its actions.

Officers also managed to identify the people who had cloned the payment cards that were later used by truckers driving for the fraudulent companies.