Europe's news in English

COPY LINK

FORGERY

Fake Ferrari makers hit police roadblock

Police in Spain have shut down a gang of criminals which produced cheap fakes of high-end vehicles for a fraction of the price of the real thing.

Published: 31 July 2013 12:16 CEST

Fake Ferrari makers hit police roadblock

A genuine Ferrari F430 Spider, one of the models the Valencia-based gang knocked off. Photo: Damien Morys

Ferraris are out of reach for most people, but one group of Spanish criminals recently came up with a novel way to get around the problem: make cheap copies.

The Valencia-based gang knocked up their own 'luxury' vehicles in two custom workshops, planning to flog them off online.

The price? Around €40,000 ($53,000) against €200,000 for the real deal.

According to Spanish police, the gang set about producing their vehicles by adding homemade fibre glass panels to cheap 'bases' of other cars.

By doing so, they managed to create copies of top-of-the-range vehicles like Ferraris and Aston Martins.

When they couldn't produce the piece themselves, the criminals shipped in genuine panels from England or even from the Ferrari factory in Maranello Italy.

The finished products were "almost perfect" both in terms of external and internal appearance, Spanish police said in a statement.

Clients of the gang knew they were buying rip-offs, said the police, adding that some customers even handed over their specifications.

But Ferrari Spain got wind of the scheme and tipped the authorities off.

Raids on the black-market car makers then turned up 17 copies of the iconic classic cars including F 430s, F430 Spiders and F458s.

Two 'Aston Martins' were also among the captured booty.

Eight people were arrested in the wake of the raids — five in Valencia and three in Madrid.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.

Become a Member to leave a comment.

REMINDER: What are the new Covid restrictions in Spain's Valencia region?

Photo: Jose Jordán/AFP

The Comunidad Valenciana’s persistently low infection rate – currently 20 cases per 100,000 people over the past 14 days – has allowed regional authorities to ease coronavirus restrictions, some of the strictest in Spain since the start of the third wave in January.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re living in or visiting the Valencia region soon.

Curfew

The curfew will remain in place in the region after May 24th but it will start later than previously, at 1am instead of midnight. That means that except for exceptional reasons, nobody can be outdoors from 1am to 6am.

Valencian regional president Ximo Puig has stressed that if the epidemiological situation remains stable, the curfew – or toque de queda in Spanish – will be lifted as of June 7th.

Bars, cafés and restaurants

From Monday 24th, bars, restaurants and cafés can stay open until 12.30 am, one hour later than the previous closing time.

A capacity of 50 percent is allowed inside the premises and 100 percent on outdoor terraces.

Sitting at the bar, smoking (including electronic cigarettes or hookahs) and dancing indoors or outdoors are still prohibited.

Family and social gatherings

A limit of 10 people is established in public spaces both outdoors and indoors, except in the case of people who are living under the same roof.

Inside homes and other private use spaces, the limit of 10 people also applies and only people from two households can gather.

Beaches and nature

The use of the mask is still mandatory when walking around on beaches, around swimming pools, lakes and other natural spaces.

However, as long as you can keep a distance of 1.5 metres with others, you will be allowed to take off your mask while sunbathing or sitting in one spot at the beach.

If you’re going for a dip in the sea, you don’t have to wear a mask as it’s incompatible with swimming, whereas if you’re going for a stroll along the shore you do have to keep your mask on.

Groups at the beach, swimming pool or in nature cannot exceed ten people.

Celebrations and events

The capacity is increased up to 75 percent for activities relating to celebrations, events or gatherings of a sporting, cultural or social nature, as well as for political rallies.

In churches and other places of worship it’s still important to abide by a safe distance of 1.5 metres between gatherers.

In enclosed spaces, a maximum of 3,000 people are allowed, while in open spaces, the limit is set at 4,000 people.

In both cases, the capacity has to be separated into groups of 1,000 people each.

In addition, eating and drinking will only be allowed in areas specially enabled for this purpose.

READ ALSO:

How Spain’s Valencia region achieved one of Europe’s lowest infection rates

SHOW COMMENTS

Url copied to clipboard!