Police crack down on international car thief gang

The criminals obtained cars through theft, fraud and embezzlement, and then sold them in Hungary and other European countries, Gabor Nemedi said.

He said that the investigation had started in 2018, in the wake of warrants issued for cars in Italy. In cooperation with Europol and the Italian police, Hungarian police arrested four Italian, a Romanian and three Hungarian nationals in early 2020, but since then the number of suspects in Hungary has increased to 19, including 5 Italians and 2 Romanians, he said.

During the investigation in Hungary the police seized 78 cars, 16 tractors and construction machinery, as well as two trucks, and identified 89 further cars sold abroad, the officer said.

Answering a question, Nemedi said that the stolen cars would be returned to their rightful owners.