Alleged international car theft syndicate targeted Toyota LandCruisers and Prados in Brisbane
An alleged international crime ring has allegedly stolen dozens of Toyota cars from Brisbane and shipped them for sale in the United Arab Emirates. 
Police investigating a rise in Toyota thefts in Brisbane late last year uncovered an alleged organised operation stealing specific models, including Land Cruisers and Prados. 

A group of seven men from Japan, Brazil, Fiji, and Afghanistan are accused of flying into the city in October and orchestrating the theft of 60 vehicles between October 20 and December 1.

An alleged international crime ring has allegedly stolen dozens of Toyota cars from Brisbane and shipped them for sale in the United Arab Emirates. 
The Toyota cars were allegedly sent in whole in shipping containers to the UAE. (Queensland Police)

Authorities claim the group had plans to ship these cars in containers to the United Arab Emirates, expecting to make a profit of approximately $9 million.

The alleged criminal activities came to light when two stolen Land Cruisers were discovered at a wrecking yard in Rocklea on December 2.

Police arrived on the scene around 2:30 a.m. and declared it a crime scene. Inside a shipping container, they found the vehicles hidden behind what appeared to be a façade of dismantled car parts.

Over the following weeks, two more shipping containers containing four allegedly stolen cars were found in the Port of Brisbane, and four shipping containers were found in the Port of Melbourne.

While police have managed to recover 15 of the stolen Toyota vehicles, they believe the remaining cars have already been transported to the UAE.

The seven individuals, aged 28 to 45, now face charges totaling over 300 offenses.

An alleged international crime ring has allegedly stolen dozens of Toyota cars from Brisbane and shipped them for sale in the United Arab Emirates. 
The allegedly stolen cars were hidden behind a “facade” of wreckage. (Queensland Police)
An alleged international crime ring has allegedly stolen dozens of Toyota cars from Brisbane and shipped them for sale in the United Arab Emirates. 
Two cars in whole behind the wreckage. (Queensland Police)

South Brisbane District Detective Inspector Paul Dalton said the men were all in Australia legally.

He alleged they stole the cars without keys and within minutes with a method only seen before in Victoria. 

“It’s brazen. I’ll use the word bespoke,” he said.

Brisbane Detective Acting Inspector Russell Joyce said it was unclear why the men were allegedly targeting Toyota cars in Brisbane.

Joyce also stressed that the companies that moved the shipped containers did so without knowledge of what was contained inside.

The inspectors were unable to say exactly how the seven men were connected and how their alleged operation came to be, but said investigations were ongoing. 

An alleged international crime ring has allegedly stolen dozens of Toyota cars from Brisbane and shipped them for sale in the United Arab Emirates. 
There were allegedly 60 stolen cars shipped to the UAE. (Queensland Police)

Of the seven men, a 29-year-old, 40-year-old, 44-year-old and 45-year-old were each charged with 60 counts of stealing a vehicle and six counts of attempted stealing of a vehicle.

A 28-year-old was charged with 17 counts of stealing a vehicle, and a 31-year-old was charged with 32 counts of stealing a vehicle.

They will all remain behind bars until they appear at the Brisbane Magistrates Court later this month.

Another 40-year-old was charged with two counts of stealing a vehicle and will face the same court later this month.

Police have assured the community that there is no ongoing threat to the community. 

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