Dismantling of Ukrainian Car Theft Ring Spanning Europe
In a significant blow to organized crime, authorities have dismantled a Ukrainian gang involved in luxury car trafficking across Europe. Comprising members from France, Russia, and Latvia, the criminal network specialized in hijacking vehicles from European rental companies. Their operations, dating back to August 2022, were brought to an end after a year-long investigation by the Marseille research section and the Central Office for the Fight against Itinerant Delinquency (OCLDI).
The gang's sophisticated modus operandi involved using women with false papers to rent powerful sedans from agencies located near airports in multiple countries including Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Portugal, and France. Once rented, the vehicles would vanish, eventually shipped to the United Arab Emirates or Eastern European countries, where they were sold secretly and remained untraceable. Authorities have recorded at least 36 hijackings, estimating the damage at around two million euros.
Cross-Border Operations and Joint Investigations
Recognizing the vast network and international scope of the gang's activities, a joint investigation team (JIT) comprising Spain, France, Ukraine, and Poland was set up on March 14, 2024. This collaborative effort was crucial in tackling the sprawling network. On May 21, 2024, a significant operation was launched involving 90 soldiers coordinated by the OCLDI and the Marseille research section, with overarching support from Europol and Eurojust.
The ensuing raids resulted in over 70 searches and the seizure of various assets including 132,165 euros and a BMW X1. Six stolen vehicles were recovered, and a cache of weapons, grenades, counterfeit documents, and counterfeit money was also discovered. The operation led to numerous arrests across Europe, with thirteen individuals implicated; seven in France, five in Spain, and one in Ukraine. Eleven suspects, including a high-value target, were indicted and placed in pre-trial detention. This collaborative endeavor marks a significant victory against cross-border organized crime.
- The investigation, opened by the Grasse judicial court (Alpes-Maritimes) on March 31, 2023, was initiated after multiple luxury car thefts were recorded by rental agencies in the region. The pattern of these crimes suggested a single organized group was behind the thefts, prompting authorities to take coordinated action across borders.
- The international police cooperation highlights the necessity of cross-border collaboration in addressing organized crime. The successful dismantling of this gang not only prevented further thefts but also disrupted the sophisticated network that facilitated the sale of these stolen luxury cars in markets far removed from their original locations.
