Fijian Man Among Those Arrested in Australia Over Alleged International Car Theft Syndicate

A Fijian man is among seven people arrested in Australia following a major police operation targeting an alleged international crime syndicate accused of stealing high-value vehicles and shipping them overseas.

Australian authorities allege the group was responsible for the theft of around 60 Toyota LandCruiser and Prado vehicles, mainly from the Brisbane area, in a highly organised operation that ran for several weeks late last year. The vehicles are estimated to be worth millions of dollars.

Police say the syndicate specifically targeted popular four-wheel-drive models and was able to steal vehicles within minutes. The cars were allegedly concealed inside shipping containers and exported overseas for resale.

The arrests followed an intensive investigation by Queensland Police after a sudden spike in vehicle thefts. During the operation, officers intercepted shipping containers at ports and located additional stolen vehicles at a wrecking yard. While some vehicles have been recovered, authorities believe many had already been shipped out of the country.

Among those charged are men from several countries, including Fiji, Brazil, Japan and Afghanistan. Police allege the accused collectively face hundreds of charges, mainly related to stealing and attempted stealing of motor vehicles.

From a Fiji perspective, the case is a reminder of how transnational crime networks increasingly operate across borders, drawing individuals from different countries into sophisticated criminal operations. It also highlights the growing cooperation between international law-enforcement agencies in tracking and dismantling organised crime.

Australian police say investigations are continuing, including inquiries into how the vehicles were moved through ports and whether additional people were involved locally or overseas. All accused are expected to appear before Australian courts in the coming weeks.