Turbocharged cops shift gears to bust Thai luxury car scam (video)
In a story more fitting for a Jason Statham heist movie, police finally cracked a high-rolling car scam, seizing a £6.5 million (285 million baht) stash of stolen luxury motors, including a jaw-dropping £220,000 (9.65 million baht) Lamborghini Huracan Spyder.
These wheels were fraudulently whisked away from Britain and shipped to Thailand eight years ago but now they’re coming home, destined to be reunited with their rightful owners.
The audacious haul features 30 high-end vehicles, among them sleek Mercedes, stylish Porsches, and even a classic Ford Mustang. Cops are calling this a “sophisticated case of finance fraud,” masterminded by a Thai kingpin who, along with 13 fellow countrymen, orchestrated this globe-trotting scheme.
Four Brits were also in on the act, swiping 35 cars, many pre-ordered, from dealerships across England between 2016 and 2017. The cars were then shipped off to Thailand and sold in legit-looking dealerships, making fat profits for the criminals.
Dubbed Operation Titanium, the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) got the wheel rolling after a shocking find at Southampton Port: four stolen Mercedes just sitting in a container. This discovery blew the case wide open, pointing to a network of UK cars being fraudulently funnelled to Bangkok by the same slippery operator.
With the help of Thai police and government officials and top crime agencies, NaVCIS overcame pesky time zones, language tangles, and ownership disputes to bring 30 of these marvellous motors back to the UK. The operation saw prosecutions flying as those responsible face justice, said Sharon Naughton, Head of NaVCIS.
“Finding those Mercs in Southampton was the game-changer. We dug deeper, working with our Thai counterparts to bust this entire criminal web. Some cars were air-freighted and sold before you could say ‘luxury car.’ But we’ve traced them and brought them back.”
The cunning ringleader, who undervalued the cars to dodge taxes in Thailand, now finds himself behind bars in his homeland, awaiting trial. Meanwhile, four Brits were cuffed but charges were yet to stick.
The prized Lamborghini, with 8,000 miles on the clock, will return to its owner, who rents out supercars for a living. The rest will head back to the dealerships they were deceitfully driven from, said Naughton.
“This isn’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. For car rental businesses, losing such valuable assets is a real blow. We’re thrilled to return them and restore what’s been lost to banks and finance companies.”
Nick Dawson, an Intelligence Development Officer at the ports, hailed the operation’s success, reported the Daily Mirror.
“It’s a rare gem of a case. Getting these cars back is a huge win.”
Intranee Sumawong, Thailand’s senior public prosecutor at the International Affairs Department, added, “Thai car enthusiasts are fond of UK cars as we drive on the same side. They’re all about the prestige.”
Having sailed back to the UK, these 30 cars mark the victorious end of an eight-year saga. Operation Titanium scores another hit for NaVCIS—they’re not stopping until every stolen ride hits the brakes on crime.
