Adif is struggling to keep up with copper thieves. The state-owned company, which manages the Catalan railway network, is facing serious logistical difficulties in finding the copper cable needed to replace all the material stolen from it in recent months. As ARA has learned, this year's flood of thefts, which exceeds all records to date, has pushed the company's reserve stocks to the limit, and it is now scrambling to cover all the needs required by the network and keep the system running.

They would come to Catalonia, arrive at a wind farm, steal the copper from the turbines, and flee the country quickly. This was the method of a criminal group dismantled by the Mossos d'Esquadra with four arrests of people between 32 and 41 years old who had allegedly committed twelve robberies, eight of which were in the regions of Tarragona and Lleida —the remaining ones were in the Valencian Community and Aragon—. The head of the Criminal Investigation Division (DIC) of Camp de Tarragona, Marc Bayón, expressed surprise because none of the four detainees had a criminal record in the country and added that it had been "very difficult to tackle" this gang coming from Eastern Europe. Three of the four detainees have already been remanded in custody.

The fact that there are more or fewer copper thefts in Catalonia depends on a building located in the City of London. The London Metal Exchange marks the global evolution of the price of copper and, if things are on the decline in England, in Catalonia everything points to a few quiet months. However, bearing in mind that the price of copper has increased by approximately 20% since the beginning of the year and 70% since the beginning of 2025, this increase has also translated into a rise in thefts in the country, which in some cases have produced serious disruptions to the Rodalies network, the latest this Wednesday on the R3.

Another morning of railway chaos on the R2 South line. And, once again, the disruptions have to do with a copper theft in the area of the Estació de França in Barcelona: it is the sixth time in just ten days that the same event has occurred, and Adif confirms that it has again sent its technicians to the area to replace all the stolen material.

Sabotage and a breakdown on the high-speed line between Madrid and Seville have complicated travel between the Spanish capital and the south of Spain since last night, affecting at least 10,700 commuters and delaying around thirty trains. The incidents were caused by the theft of copper cables at five locations in the province of Toledo. The Civil Guard has already opened an investigation to clarify the events and identify those responsible, while Adif's legal services are drafting a complaint, according to the Ministry of Transport. By early Monday afternoon, more than 70% of service had been restored, and the forecast is to reach 100% service between 2 and 4 p.m.