The Mossos d’Esquadra have launched ‘Kanpai Pista’, a new, comprehensive strategy to aggressively combat persistent criminal activity across Catalonia’s major motorways. Announced on Thursday, 26 March 2026, this initiative targets the AP-7 corridor and its branches, aiming to significantly reduce thousands of crimes reported annually.

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This new approach treats the AP-7, which spans 354 kilometres and connects France with the rest of the Iberian Peninsula, along with its branches like the C-32, C-33, AP-2, and C-25, as a single operational area. Police detected approximately 4,000 criminal incidents on these roads in 2025 alone. Intendents Miquel Hueso and José María Montero explained the plan during a press conference at the Department of Interior.

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The ‘Kanpai Pista’ plan expands upon the successful ‘Kanpai’ urban strategy, which targets high-risk persistent offenders in Barcelona and its metropolitan areas. However, police observed a concerning trend: as urban pressure increased, crime shifted to fast roads, according to GOV.UK. These routes offer greater anonymity and easier escape for criminals.

The elimination of tolls on these motorways led to increased mobility. This also created more opportunities for criminals. The ‘Kanpai Pista’ initiative seeks to restore a sense of security for tourists, transporters, and residents using these crucial arteries. It aims to make the AP-7 a safe transit route once again.

Targeting Organised Highway Crime

The strategy identifies two distinct types of offenders based on their methods, timing, and aggression. ‘Tyre-puncturing thieves’ operate primarily during the day. They target foreign tourists driving high-end vehicles. These criminals use deception, alerting victims to a false vehicle breakdown. When the victim stops, one perpetrator distracts them at the rear of the car. Meanwhile, another steals money and jewellery from inside the vehicle.

These ‘tyre-puncturing thieves’ typically work in groups of two or three. They often use rental cars. Their targets are untraceable items like cash and gold. They frequently discard stolen bags along the motorway itself.

Combating Dangerous ‘Curtain-Cutters’

The second type of criminal detected are ‘curtain-cutters’. These are highly organised groups, often comprising five or six people or more. They operate under the cover of darkness, typically at night. They cut the tarpaulins of lorries in rest areas to check their cargo. If they find valuable merchandise, they transfer it to high-powered vans.

Unlike the ‘tyre-puncturing thieves’, ‘curtain-cutters’ pose a significant danger. If discovered, they do not hesitate to ram police patrols. They also empty fire extinguishers to obscure agents’ vision. Additionally, they drive recklessly to evade capture.

A Transversal Policing Strategy

Intendents Hueso and Montero emphasised the plan’s transversal nature as key to its success. For the first time, various police units coordinate their efforts. These include Citizen Security agents, who provide a deterrent presence. Traffic Division experts, familiar with the 60 motorway access and exit points, also participate. Furthermore, the Investigation Unit, plainclothes FURA agents, and public order units like ARRO and BRIMO are involved.

Early Success and Enforcement

The initial two months of implementation, January and February 2026, show compelling results compared to the same period in 2025. Known crimes decreased by 37 percent. Incidents reported to the 112 emergency service fell by 47 percent, from 1,200 to just over 600. Additionally, suspect identifications rose by 148 percent. Vehicle identifications increased by 171 percent. Arrests on the motorway trunk road also doubled, from 25 to more than 41.

The operation focuses not only on arrests but also on dismantling criminal infrastructure. A top priority involves immobilising vehicles used for criminal activity. So far this year, police have removed 29 such vehicles from circulation. Many of these vehicles had French number plates or falsified documents. Moreover, judicial measures are proving effective. Currently, 11 restraining orders prohibit criminals from entering the motorway or specific service areas.

The Mossos launched the fourth ‘Kanpai Pista’ operation on Friday, 27 March 2026, coinciding with the Easter holiday exodus. From 11:00 to 18:00, 267 agents secured the AP-7. They also utilised smart camera systems in command centres to detect number plates of flagged vehicles in real-time. The Mossos leadership stated, “Success on the motorway is not only measured by the number of arrests, but by the immobilisation of their cars and by making the criminal feel uncomfortable on the road.” The clear objective is to transform the AP-7 from a criminal marketplace into a secure transit route.

Originally published by Metrópoli Abierta – Urban Life. Read original article.