Gang steals luxury cars to sell on social media for prices well below market prices
Operation with more than 360 police officers resulted in arrests and seizures; suspects traded weapons and cloned vehicles
Quick Look
- Rio Police carried out an operation with more than 360 agents against a gang that stole and cloned luxury cars to sell on social media for up to 5% of their market value.
- The group, led by Yan Almeida Coelho, 20, also traded weapons.
- Six people were arrested in Realengo, in the West Zone of Rio, this Friday (6).
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Auto Robbery and Theft Police Station was investigating a gang that stole luxury vehicles to order, cloned documents and advertised the cars on social media at prices well below market prices, reaching 5% of the market value. Payments were made by PIX by buyers from different states.
Rio police carried out an operation this Friday (6) against a gang that stole luxury cars to sell on social media at prices well below market prices. Criminals also traded weapons.
More than 360 police officers participated in the operation. The criminals reacted and, according to police, one suspect was shot dead. The investigation discovered that stolen and cloned cars were being sold on social media for 5% of their market value.
The Auto Theft and Robbery Police Department identified at least 21 profiles used to advertise the vehicles. Investigators found proof of PIX payments made by buyers from different states.
“They stole vehicles through orders, obtained regular car matrices and documents to be falsified in these stolen vehicles and give the appearance of legality”, says police chief Thiago Neves.
At least four profiles with advertisements on a social network were managed by Yan Almeida Coelho, aged 20, identified as leader of the gang. In a conversation with a potential buyer, he states: "The cars here are all clones", indicating that the documents were all forged. And he goes so far as to say: the gang is responsible for half of the cars stolen in Rio. During a negotiation, Yan said that the cars came from an area dominated by Comando Vermelho, in Complexo do Salgueiro, in São Gonçalo, Metropolitan Region of Rio. Conversations on messaging apps also reveal that the criminals were negotiating pistols and AK-47 model rifles.
Yan Almeida Coelho, appointed as leader of the scheme, was arrested in the act in May, when he was driving a stolen car. Less than two weeks later, he was released. But he returned to jail in August, in the first phase of the operation. This Friday (6), another six people were arrested in Realengo, in the West Zone of Rio. Investigators are still trying to identify others involved in the scheme. Delegate Thiago Neves warns of the risk of advertisements with very cheap car prices:
"There is no such thing as a free lunch. So, if you see an advertisement for a vehicle that costs R$150,000 and is sold for 10% of the value, be suspicious, look for official bodies to check the regularity of that purchase, check if that car is actually crashing, because you will also be held responsible if you make a purchase of a stolen vehicle", he states.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Police will continue to investigate and identify others involved in the scheme.
Likely · Within weeks
Buyers of cloned vehicles can be investigated and held responsible.
Possible · Within weeks
Open Questions
- How many vehicles were stolen and cloned in total by the gang?
- How many buyers have purchased cloned vehicles and what will be the legal consequences for them?
- What are the names of the other six people arrested in Realengo?
- Did the gang have proven connections with Comando Vermelho beyond the origin of the vehicles?
