Luxury auto-theft ring busted in N.J.

EWING, N.J. --A sophisticated, multistate operation stole dozens of luxury cars and planned to ship them as far away as West Africa and the Middle East for sale at up to twice their U.S. sticker price, police said Wednesday in announcing eight arrests in the case.

Authorities said the thieves would deliver stolen Hummers, Audis, Lexus, Mercedes and other vehicles to New Jersey ports for export to Greece, Jordan, Egypt and West African ports including Togo and Ghana.

At least three of the 72 recovered vehicles had been carjacked, while others were overdue rental vehicles or had been obtained by carjacking, insurance fraud or identity theft, authorities said. The vehicles were worth more than $2.55 million.

"The scheme was elaborate, extensive and very brazen," said Attorney General Anne Milgram.

Arrests were made Wednesday in New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Virginia, and New Jersey officials said 16 federal, state and local agencies were involved in the investigation. The charges, filed by New Jersey authorities, range from auto theft trafficking to receiving stolen property, fencing and conspiracy.

"With today's arrests and searches, we delivered a crippling blow to this multimillion-dollar auto theft ring," said Milgram. "These were not old-fashioned car thieves, chopping cars for parts. This was big business, with the thieves stealing high-end cars and shipping them overseas."

Authorities do not know the total number of vehicles stolen, but said hundreds may have been taken since they suspect the thefts may been going on for years.

"Although we've disrupted this network, we believe there are many others operating," New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes said. "Operation Auto Export has now laid the foundation for future investigative collaborations to undermine this criminal activity."

Many of the vehicles were stolen from new car lots at Port Newark or long-term parking lots at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Thieves only stole vehicles for which they had keys, authorities said, giving the stolen cars greater value on the black market. Because the locks were not popped and the vehicles were not otherwise damaged, they could pass for legitimate.

The vehicles were shipped overseas in containers, said Samuel J. Plumeri Jr., police superintendent for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.