Yahoo Autos Report: Stolen Cars Shipped Overseas Fund Terrorism
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For some, car theft seems like a small, local problem fueled by a few people who just don’t want to work a regular job. And while some vehicles are stolen by rogue loners, the reality is many are snatched up by sophisticated international organized crime rings which oftentimes fund terrorist activities. In other words, car theft is a much bigger issue than most might suspect.
Stick shift stops car theft, yet again.
Many of the stolen cars being used to fund terrorist organizations are shipped overseas and sold in foreign countries. They specifically target luxury vehicles, including ultra-luxury rides like Rolls-Royces, Maybachs, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, etc.
That makes ports like the one in Savannah, Georgia thoroughfares for these stolen cars being shipped to other countries. Atlanta News First dug into the problem in its own backyard, speaking with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials who are working to find as many of the contraband before it gets loaded onto ships.
They told the news outlet that at the Port of Savannah in the last year 72 stolen cars have been recovered, constituting a total value of $7 million. We can guarantee they’re only scratching the surface of all the vehicles illegally shipped through the port, sadly. It’s the same case elsewhere, including in Canada.
CPB officials emphasized the vehicles are being stolen and shipped by members of international organized crime rings, making it difficult to completely disrupt their operations. After all, the people who are controlling everything are often in countries which won’t extradite them to the United States for prosecution.
We already know organized crime uses proceeds from selling stolen cars not only to fund terroristic activities but also to traffic drugs and humans, plus get into other illegal activities. The car theft problem is so much larger than many suspect.
Image via Atlanta News First
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