Car Theft Ring Busted

An elaborate ring of international car thieves was dismantled through a joint investigation, federal officials announced today at a news conference in Newark.

At this time, 12 of the 19 defendants charged are in either state or federal custody, including two of the ring's major players. Several people are still being sought.

John Morton, Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said several arrests happened in New Jersey. He said the Garden State is also where much of the ring's activity was based.

"The car ring was responsible for the theft of about 200 cars in 3 states - New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania," Morton explained. "About ten percent of the cars were stolen through carjackings."

The cars were recovered at New Jersey seaports before they could be shipped to western Africa. Morton said the vehicles were given new VIN numbers and paperwork.

Morton described the ring as a "good old fashioned criminal conspiracy, trying to make money by breaking the law."