Eight men from New York City have been indicted in a multi-million dollar scheme to steal luxury cars and ship them to West Africa. The Bronx District Attorney’s Office announced the charges on Tuesday, following a nine-month investigation dubbed ‘Operation High Rollers.’ The operation resulted in the recovery of 72 stolen vehicles worth $6.6 million, including a $475,000 Rolls Royce.
Investigators revealed that the stolen cars, originating from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, were taken to a parking garage in the Longwood section of the Bronx. This garage served as a “showroom” where buyers would purchase the vehicles with cash. Five of the indicted men were previously charged in New Jersey, where many of the luxury cars were discovered in shipping containers bound for Gambia and Ghana.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin highlighted the sophisticated nature of the thefts, stating that suspects would break into homes to steal key fobs, adding “a new layer of danger to car theft.” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch emphasized the severity of the crime, noting that organized theft rings like this one fuel violence and instability. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark praised the collaboration between her office, the NYPD, and the New Jersey Attorney General’s office in dismantling the group.
Two of the eight suspects indicted on Tuesday remain at large, according to Clark’s office. The investigation and subsequent charges demonstrate a commitment to tackling auto crime in the region.
