In a major victory against international vehicle crime, 35 high-end supercars stolen and shipped illegally to Thailand have been recovered and returned to the UK. The vehicles, including Range Rovers, Porsches, Mercedes, BMWs, and Lamborghinis, are valued at a combined £6.5 million. The recovery marks the end of an eight-year investigation led by the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaCVIS), with the support of the Met Police, National Crime Agency, and British and Thai embassies.
The luxury cars were fraudulently acquired through finance contracts at dealerships across England in 2016 and 2017 before being smuggled out of the country. NaCVIS spearheaded the investigation, which ultimately led to the tracking and seizure of 30 vehicles in Bangkok. The cars were then shipped back to the UK via the Port of Southampton, where they are currently stored near the port before being returned to their original dealerships.
After 8 years, 35 vehicles, original value over £6million were returned from Thailand following Op Titanium. These were obtained on fraudulent finance and within a few days were shipped to Bangkok. It took years of work and fantastic assistance from Thai authorities. pic.twitter.com/Ig0H5L2i97
— NaVCIS (@NaVCIS_UK) October 31, 2024
Sharon Naughton, head of NaCVIS, emphasized the agency’s commitment to disrupting criminal activities and recovering stolen property, saying, “There is no time limit on our efforts to disrupt criminality and return proceeds obtained through illegal means.” Jenny Simms, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for vehicle crime, added that these crimes have a significant impact on victims and highlighted the dedication involved in the investigation.
The operation has led to charges against 13 individuals in connection with the theft and smuggling of the vehicles. The recovery demonstrates the resolve of law enforcement agencies in pursuing vehicle crime, even across international borders.
Elizabeth Puckett
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