Police have smashed a highly sophisticated international crime syndicate accused of stealing 60 high-end Toyota vehicles valued at a staggering $9 million and smuggling them out of the country inside shipping containers.
Sophisticated Theft Operation Uncovered
Seven foreign nationals are now facing more than 300 combined charges after tactical police units discovered the stolen cars concealed within containers at the Port of Brisbane and in Melbourne. The vehicles were hidden among tyres and other junk in an attempt to evade detection.
Investigators revealed the thieves used a specialised electronic device known as a “canbus” tool to bypass security systems. This gadget allowed them to break into and start the luxury vehicles without needing physical keys by scrambling the car's internal computer interface.
Queensland Police Detective Inspector Paul Dalton described the operation as "highly organised, well-disciplined and very sophisticated," stating that Queensland had never before seen a crime of this nature and scale.
Dream Cars Stolen in Minutes
The criminal enterprise targeted vehicles worth over $100,000 each, with some thefts taking as little as two minutes to execute. Authorities allege some of the accused flew into Australia just weeks before the first thefts occurred, specifically to carry out the plot.
Among the victims was Hayley-Ann Paul, who waited two years for her dream Toyota Land Cruiser to arrive, only to have it stolen from her home while she slept. Two months later, she is still waiting for an insurance payout. "I was gutted. I was really gutted," she said.
Another potential victim, Bruce Welk, was more fortunate. He managed to interrupt a thief in the act, causing the man to flee immediately. "As soon as I yelled out, the guy saw he just immediately ran up the road," Welk recounted.
Black Market Destination and Limited Recovery
Police believe the stolen vehicles were destined for the black market overseas. International auto theft investigator Helen Shaw explained that such vehicles are often sold on to sanctioned countries in the Middle East or Russia which cannot legitimately purchase the products.
Despite the bust, only 15 of the 60 stolen vehicles have been recovered. The rest are believed to have already been shipped out of Australia. In response to this sophisticated crime wave, 7NEWS understands Toyota will make a security upgrade announcement on Thursday.
