A massive illegal road racing ring that used local motorways has been busted by Spanish police who have arrested 42 people and seized more than 40 vehicles.
The highly dangerous race had been taking place on holiday island Gran Canariaโs main motorway, the GC-1 amid unsuspecting innocent road users.
The Spanish Civil Guard said in a statement on April 24th: โOfficers intervened in the middle of the illegal race, arrested 42 people, and investigated another six for crimes against road safety.
โForty vehicles used in the races were seized and impounded and a large number of complaints have been filed against the Road Safety Law, the General Vehicle Regulations and the Citizen Security Law.โ
Police said that the racers positioned themselves in parallel in the middle of the GC-1 motorway and that the races were watched by a large group of spectators.
The Civil Guard stated: โThe Civil Guard and the Telde Local Police, during the so-called โTODOGASGCโ operation, have arrested 42 people and investigated another six people for crimes against road safety for their participation in illegal races.
โAgents from both police forces detected that illegal races were being carried out along different routes in Telde.
โThe participants of the illegal races used an alert system to warn of police presence in the area and therefore resume the races when officers left the area.
Police have arrested 42 people and seized 40 vehicles used in the illegal street races, in Telde, Spain, in April, 2022. (Zenger)
โFor over three months, a police operation was designed based on discreet and remote surveillance with camouflaged vehicles and police drones that would help capture images that showed the true scope of the activities being carried out.
โThe researchers were able to verify how, when competing, participants positioned themselves in parallel across the CG-1, slowed down its normal circulation, and started the competition using the agreed signal: 3 honks of the horn.
โIn these competitions, both passenger cars and mechanically modified mopeds to increase their power and speed were used.โ
The police said that racers โpassed other road users simultaneously on both the left and right sides, causing a serious risk to road safetyโ.
Police have arrested 42 people and seized 40 vehicles used in the illegal street races, in Telde, Spain, in April, 2022. (Zenger).
The statement added: โAn added risk to these illegal competitions was the presence of a large crowd who, lacking any type of safety measure (reflective vests), stood on the hard shoulder and in the joining lanes of the GC-1 to watch the race.
Police have arrested 42 people and seized 40 vehicles used in the illegal street races, in Telde, Spain, in April, 2022. (Zenger).
โIt was also suspected that the consumption of narcotic substances was promoted during these events.
โThe Civil Guard and the Telde Local Police carried out the first phase on March 31, carrying out a large police operation in which over 50 police officers participated.โ
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