A pursuit on the A-7 ended with Spanish police detaining four people in Alicante and San Vicente del Raspeig and recovering eight AK-47 assault rifles. The chase began near Elche and stretched over 45 kilometers toward Murcia, ending when the suspect’s vehicle crashed in Abanilla. Police believe the four detainees are connected to a drug-trafficking network operating in the area.
The incident unfolded in the early hours of July 2, when officers from Alicante police’s Organized Crime Group spotted a car speeding and making dangerous maneuvers. As officers tried to follow discreetly, the driver accelerated to more than 150 km/h, weaving through roads and repeatedly ramming police vehicles in an effort to escape. At one point, a police car was forced off the road. The officers inside suffered minor injuries, and the vehicle was significantly damaged.
Additional police units joined the operation as the pursuit intensified. The suspect eventually lost control and veered into farmland, where the car crashed into a tree in Abanilla. Despite extensive damage to the car and the deployment of its airbags, the driver fled on foot. One pursuing officer suffered minor cuts and bruises after falling into a ravine during the chase. Police found eight Kalashnikov rifles with loaded magazines inside the abandoned vehicle.
El Independiente has also reported the recovery of eight assault rifles after a pursuit at speeds exceeding 150 km/h, followed by the arrest of four men. Its account describes a flight from the Alicante to Elche area that ended in farmland in Murcia, placing the discovery in the broader context of military-style firearms circulating in Spain. The seizure prompted inquiries into possible links to organized crime. The weapons’ origin and intended recipient have not been established in the reporting.
Investigators examined the crashed car for clues to the fugitive’s identity. Documents found inside pointed to possible addresses in Alicante and San Vicente del Raspeig. Over the following days, police identified and located the basic suspect and three associates, all Spanish nationals aged between 21 and 43. Information from sources cited by EL PAÍS, each has a large criminal record, primarily for serious drug-related offenses.
The four are reported to face charges of possession of weapons of war and membership in a criminal group. The driver is also accused of traffic offenses and assaulting law enforcement officers. Police also accuse him of causing property damage. On Thursday morning, the suspects appeared before a judge in Alicante for a preliminary hearing. The arrests and weapons seizure are developments in an investigation, not a finding of guilt.
The case comes amid heightened attention to road safety and organized crime in Spain. Recent incidents, such as the fatal crash involving Iván Sanz Cid reported in another high-profile traffic investigation, have drawn attention to the risks of reckless driving and criminal activity on Spanish highways. The seizure of assault rifles in Alicante highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in addressing the overlap between drug trafficking and armed violence.
Spain’s National Police continue to prioritize operations against organized crime, particularly in regions such as Alicante and Murcia. The recovery of the rifles and the subsequent arrests have renewed attention to the investigation and the risks posed by armed criminal activity on the region’s roads.
