Madrid police arrest Los Cucos clan member after M-40 car chase runs out of fuel

High-speed pursuit across Vallecas

The incident began at approximately 02:30 on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, when a National Police prevention patrol conducted routine surveillance in the Villa de Vallecas district of Madrid. Officers noticed a dark passenger vehicle navigating the Sierra de Guadalupe roundabout, a junction connecting Villa de Vallecas and Puente de Vallecas, at excessive speed. The patrol activated both acoustic sirens and flashing emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver refused to comply, accelerated, and fled the scene. The pursuit extended down Avenida de la Albufera before joining the southbound lanes of the M-40 ring road. Although police pushed their vehicle to maximum speed along the motorway, the fleeing car initially maintained a wide gap ahead of the pursuing unit.

Fuel exhaustion and roadside apprehension

The chase ended abruptly near exit 19B on the southern stretch of the M-40 when the suspect vehicle began sputtering, lost momentum, and pulled onto the road shoulder after completely running out of fuel. Officers positioned their vehicle behind the disabled car and approached with caution, immediately spotting two shotguns and ammunition inside the passenger compartment. They ordered the driver to exit the vehicle. The motorist was identified as 24-year-old Jonathan J. V. Officers noted obvious signs of severe alcohol intoxication and spotted multiple bloodstains on his clothing and t-shirt. When questioned on site, the driver admitted that he had taken part in a violent brawl against two men in Madrid's Santa Eugenia neighbourhood shortly before driving onto the motorway.

Weapons cache and roadside inspection

A detailed inspection of the vehicle uncovered an accessible arsenal ready for immediate deployment. Officers seized two 12-gauge shotguns that were resting outside their protective cases, loaded with ammunition and primed for discharge. Beside the weapons, police recovered cartridge belts and ammunition carriers holding 50 semi-armoured calibre-12 cartridges and eight standard cartridges, bringing the total round count to 58. The search also yielded a knife with a 22-centimetre blade and several rapier-type walking sticks within direct reach of the driver's seat. Subsequent database checks confirmed that the suspect had no valid driving licence, and he failed a breathalyser test conducted at the scene.

Clan connections and judicial proceedings

Police records identified the 24-year-old as an active member of Los Cucos, a criminal branch of the wider Jiménez Silva family. The group originally managed fortified drug distribution bunkers in Cañada Real Galiana before relocating its drug flat operations to Puente de Vallecas and Calle de Cullera in the Latina district. The clan has a history of violent feuds, including territorial clashes with the Milagros group over construction site extortion rackets and past homicide investigations. Thirteen members of the family, aged between 22 and 49, were recently detained in Plaza de Castilla, resulting in four prison remands. The arrested driver, who has previous records for riotous brawling and assaulting police officers, was placed under arrest and transferred to judicial authorities on charges of unlawful weapons possession, resisting authority, and crimes against road safety.