Thirty supercars stolen and illegally exported to Thailand have been returned to the UK after an eight-year investigation.
A total of 35 high-end vehicles – including Range Rovers, Porsches, Mercedes, BMWs, and Lamborghinis – were taken, with a combined value of £6.5m, according to the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaCVIS).
They were obtained fraudulently on finance contracts from car dealerships across England in 2016 and 2017 before being shipped to Thailand, the agency said.
After an eight-year investigation led by NaCVIS, with the help of the Met Police, National Crime Agency, and the British and Thai embassies, multiple arrest warrants were executed and 30 of the cars were tracked down and seized in Bangkok.
Thai authorities in Bangkok with one of the stolen cars. Pic: National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service
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The vehicles have now arrived back in the UK through the Port of Southampton and are being stored in a warehouse nearby before being returned to their original dealerships.
Sharon Naughton, head of NaCVIS, said the organisation “will not rest until every avenue of investigation has been exhausted”.
“There is no time limit on our efforts to disrupt criminality and return proceeds obtained through illegal means,” she added.
A green Lamborghini recovered from Thailand. Pic: National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service
Pic: National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service
Jenny Simms, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for vehicle crime, said the offences have a “huge impact” on victims.
“The tireless work involved in this investigation reflects how seriously we take our role in tackling it,” she added.
Thirteen people have now been charged as a result of the investigation, the National Crime Agency said.
