Italian police dismantle web of smuggling luxury cars to Maghreb

The Italian police have dismantled a web that used to steal luxury cars in Italy and smuggle them to Maghreban countries, including Morocco.

Sources close to the prosecution said the cars were smuggled via the ports of Marseille (southern France) and Algesiras (southern Spain) to North African countries, after their serial numbers were changed and documents forged.

The 4-month long investigation has led to the arrest of 40 Italian and Maghreban (mostly Moroccan) smugglers. A group of 23 persons are under preventive custody.

Detectives also seized 45 cars valued at 3 billion Italian liras that were about to be smuggled out.

The luxury cars smuggling brought to the authors several billion liras, said the Italian magistrate adding it is too early to say how many cars were stolen and smuggled out.