Police have smashed a criminal gang which were selling tyres as part-worns but had been meant for disposal.

Spanish police, with the help of Interpol and its American equivalent, has caught the gang illegally selling used tyres in several countries across Europe, Africa and America. Investigators estimate that they sold more than 200,000 tyres sold over five years, netting them around £1.75 million. The operation involved 17 countries from the three continents. Nine people were arrested and five more charged. The network acquired the used tyres in Spain and other European countries, especially those where tyres are generally changed early. Once in Spain, the tyres that were meant for disposal were instead sold to low-income third countries to be reused on vehicles.