24 Arrested for Exporting $6M in Stolen Cars to West Africa
Twenty-four individuals were charged Wednesday as part of an international car theft ring responsible for the exportation of stolen vehicles to various West African countries, reports Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to ICE, the investigation resulted in the recovery of more than 200 vehicles with an estimated retail value of $6 million.
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According to court documents, the investigation revealed that numerous individuals had illegally exported, or attempted to export, stolen vehicles through the seaports in Newark and Elizabeth, N.J., to various destinations overseas, including to Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Gambia. These vehicles were either stolen or carjacked in various states, including in New Jersey. ICE alleges the criminal organization's activities involved the theft, carjacking, sale, receipt, transportation, interstate trafficking and illegal exportation of stolen and altered motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts.
According to ICE, at the center of this organization was Hope Kantete, aka "the Lady", a large-scale fence with an extensive customer base overseas. She bought stolen and carjacked vehicles not only from street gang members, but also from other fences, ICE said, then had the vehicles retagged and shipped overseas or sold them to individuals who would make their own shipping arrangements.