Customs surveillance officials from the Tax Agency and the Civil Guard, as part of Operation Phone Post, have successfully retrieved 17 high-end smartphones that were stolen in tourist areas of Tenerife. These devices were intended to be sent via post to Romania. One individual has been arrested, and two others are under investigation in connection with this operation.
The investigation was initiated following the inspection of postal packages on Tenerife, carried out by officials from both agencies as part of their customs control functions.
Subsequently, upon the discovery of the stolen mobile phones, a collaborative investigation was launched to identify the perpetrators of the thefts and the rightful owners of the devices, as reported by the Tax Agency.
As a result of the investigations, on February 26, three individuals linked to the incidents were located and identified.
Two of the individuals were investigated, while the third was arrested and presented before the Investigative Court of Guardia de Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
An intelligent translator and various currencies amounting to over 7,000 euros were confiscated from the involved parties.
Following various procedures, efforts were made to contact some of the legitimate owners, some of whom are abroad in their respective countries of origin, leading to the successful return of some of the devices.
The perpetrators of the thefts primarily employed the modus operandi known as “careless theft,” whereby they exploit distractions or even create situations to gain access to their victims’ possessions.
Their preferred targets were foreign tourists on holiday in Tenerife. Once a substantial number of valuable items were acquired, they were sent through the post to another European country under false declarations.
The operation was carried out by the Customs Surveillance Operational Unit of the Tax Agency and the Fiscal and Border Investigation Analysis Unit (UDAIFF) of the Fiscal Protection and Borders Section.
