Australian police say they have dismantled an alleged international crime ring responsible for stealing dozens of Toyota vehicles in Brisbane and shipping them overseas — with one of the accused reported to be from Fiji.
9 News reports investigators launched a probe after a surge in Toyota thefts late last year, uncovering what they describe as a highly organised operation targeting specific high-value models, including Land Cruisers and Prados.
Police allege seven men — from Japan, Brazil, Fiji and Afghanistan — flew into Brisbane in October and stole around 60 vehicles between October 20 and December 1.
The cars were allegedly packed into shipping containers bound for the United Arab Emirates, with the group expected to profit an estimated AUD $9 million.
The operation unraveled when two stolen Land Cruisers were driven into a Rocklea wrecking yard on December 2.
Police declared the site a crime scene and discovered vehicles hidden in a shipping container behind what appeared to be disassembled car parts. Additional containers with stolen vehicles were later located at the Port of Brisbane and Port of Melbourne.
So far, only 15 of the stolen Toyotas have been recovered, with the remainder believed to have already reached the UAE.
The seven men, aged 28 to 45, have been charged with more than 300 offences. Police say they were in Australia legally and allegedly used a fast, sophisticated method to steal cars without keys.
Investigations into how the group was formed — and their wider connections — are continuing. Shipping companies involved in transporting the containers are not suspected of wrongdoing.
