80 Venezuela-Bound Luxury Cars Seized By Federal Agents In Port Everglades

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One of the biggest car-smuggling rackets in South Florida led by a Venezuelan billionaire.

There was a lot of commotion going on in Port Everglades as 81 luxury cars bound for Venezuela were seized by Federal Agents. While most of the cars were high-end including a $150,000 Mercedes Biturbo SUV, there were a few low-end cars including a Toyota Corolla worth about $20,000. Altogether, the cars added up equal a retail value of $3.2 million. This has been described as "one of the biggest car-smuggling rackets in South Florida."

According to the Miami Herald, the luxury vehicles were by Homeland Security before being smuggled out of the country by a ring led by a Venezuelan billionaire and his associates. That violates the United States export laws and sanctions in place against Latin America's socialist government.

Already facing money-laundering charges in Miami, the Venezuelan billionaire is Caracas media Raúl Gorrín. Accusations against Gorrín include him joining forces with shell companies and straw buyers in South Florida to obtain and transport these luxury vehicles to be driven by those connected to politicians, police, and the wealthy. He is also accused of stealing from his own government, according to HSI officials.

A HSI special agent Anthony Salisbury told the Miami Herald that "this is just a drop in the bucket" as it is unknown how many cars have actually made it over to Venezuela from port Everglades before they caught wind of the scheme. Salisbury also describes the billionaire as a "master money launderer". As of now Gorrín now, has not been charged, and neither has anybody else as of yet.

Salisbury pointed out some of the cars involved including a Jaguar F-Type worth about $62,000, a military green Toyota Tundra worth $66,000, and a Lexus SUV equipped with police emergency lights and sirens worth about $86,000.

“These cars are going down to kleptocrats like Gorrín and his associates to live their billionaire lifestyles while the people of Venezuela are starving to death,” Salisbury said. “You can’t get your hands on vehicles like these down there.”