Dubai Supercar Thieves Used Fake License Plates For Smuggling

Dubai has more than its fair share of supercars and exotic vehicles. The city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates has long been known for the luxurious lifestyle tourists and (some) residents enjoy. And when there’s lots of money, crime typically follows. We’re not talking just petty theft but rather organized crime syndicates run by professionals. Sometimes amateurs think they can get away with a major crime, but the Dubai Police believes otherwise. Take this latest “international crime plot” the local force has just exposed.

Gulf Business reports the Dubai Police has foiled a plot to steal and smuggle luxury vehicles out of the UAE, including at least one Lamborghini valued at Dhs1.3 million, or about $354,000.

The report didn’t specify which model but a quick check reveals the Lamborghini Huracan carries a similar starting price in the country. Thanks to a tip-off from a local exotic car rental agency following the vehicle’s theft, the suspects were arrested as they were attempting to smuggle the Lambo out of the country using fake license plates, presumably somewhere to Eastern Europe where they were all from.

“The investigation team was able to determine the car location despite the gang members’ use of modern techniques to conceal its whereabouts and prevent inference of its location,” said Brigadier Jamal Salem Al Jalaf, director of Criminal Investigation Department at Dubai Police.

The suspects had no idea they were being tracked by artificial intelligence technologies nearly the entire time. Their movements and activities were all being monitored even before the police located where they were staying, which turned out to be a local luxury hotel. It also served as their so-called base of operations, and that turned out to be another mistake.

Fake license plates and the required forging tools were found in their room. What’s next for these guys? They’re probably wishing right now the Dubai Police will simply deport them but something tells us they won’t be going home anytime soon.