A Lleida court will lead the investigation into a criminal network accused of stealing Toyota RAV4 vehicles across Spain, with the cars then exported by ship to Gambia and other African countries. The Supreme Court confirmed on 30 May 2026 that Instruction Court Number 2 in Lleida is the competent judicial body to handle the case.
The ruling from the High Court’s criminal chamber is final and cannot be appealed. It settles a jurisdictional dispute with a court in Almería, which had opened proceedings after one suspect was linked to a theft there involving the same model. The Supreme Court said the main focus of the police and judicial investigation has been in Lleida, the capital of Segrià.
Officials said the network’s logistical centre was in Girona, underlining the organised nature of the operation. The investigation focuses on how stolen vehicles were moved from different parts of Spain to Catalonia before being prepared for international shipment.
The Lleida court will now coordinate the inquiry, including evidence gathering, suspect questioning and the preparation of any future trial. The aim is to dismantle the full network, from the people stealing the cars to those helping export them. For more local coverage, see our news tag.
