A MAN who left his £50,000 Mercedes with airport meet and greet parking says his car had disappeared when he came back from holiday.
The holidaymaker was duped into giving an international crime gang the keys to his silver C220 AMG Mercedes at Manchester Airport.
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Scammers working for the gang forged documents to trick drivers into believing they worked for a legit airport parking firm.
When the driver got back from his holiday, he rang up the real company – and twigged he had been scammed.
The Mercedes was just one of 100 top-end motors stolen by the “chop shop” gang – with a total value of around £3million.
Some cars were stolen in terrifying robberies or hold-ups before they were shipped overseas.
One motor was stolen off a driveway while its owner was on holiday abroad.
Another time the gangsters slipped into a house and stole the keys while the owners were relaxing in the garden.
In the most shocking theft of all, the gang warned a man to stay inside his home while they stole his car – or else they would kill him.
But 14 gang members are now behind bars after cops unravelled the multi-million pound conspiracy.
Phones seized by detectives revealed “shopping lists” of luxury motors including Range Rovers and Land Rovers stolen to order.
A forensic search of the phones also revealed videos of the gangsters scoping out cars.
In one clip, Bolton crook Sajid Jangharia films a Range Rover and is heard saying: “It’s fresh.”
A two-year probe linked the gang to the theft of at least 90 high-end motors.
The gang shipped 11 containers overseas – including which were intercepted en route to the United Arab Emirates.
They even created a fake shipping company named KG Logistics – while forging the details of real firms to order the containers.
But the gang came under pressure from cops after they were linked to a string of seemingly isolated car thefts.
After detectives raided a garage they used in Wigan, one scammer said: “Five-o busted the yard again.”
Another joked that the group should start packing their kits for prison.
In 2022, seven men were jailed for more than 45 years in total for their parts in the multi-million pound conspiracy.
Last week seven co-conspirators joined their associates behind bars for another 25 years.
The ‘chop shop’ gangsters now behind bars
In 2022, seven men were convicted, and sent to jail collectively for over 45 years for their involvement in the multi-million pound conspiracy.
- Asif Hussain (19/02/1977), Tonge Moor Road, Bolton was identified as the ringleader. He was jailed for 15 years for conspiracy to steal, two counts of conspiracy to handle stolen goods, and money laundering.
- Hadir Ali (27/10/1994), Lee Street, Oldham, was jailed for 11 years for two counts of conspiracy to handle stolen goods.
- Sajid Jangharia (26/07/1984), Willows Lane, Bolton, was jailed for ten years for conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to handle stolen goods.
- Tayoub Hasnain (24/07/1984) of Heywood Street, Bury, was jailed for five years and six months for conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to handle stolen goods.
- Ibraaz Shafique (29/03/1998) of Camberwell Street, Oldham, was jailed for four years for two counts of conspiracy to handle stolen goods and two counts of fraud.
- Two other men received suspended sentences.
This week, seven co-conspirators have joined their associates behind bars for an additional 25 years.
- Asif Matadar (03/12/1984) of Melbourne Road, Bolton, has been sentenced to three years six months for conspiracy to steal.
- Shewaz Rehman (02/04/1995) of Hereford Street, Oldham, has been sentenced for four years nine months for conspiracy to handle stolen goods.
- Imran Taj (21/02/1981) of Malvern Road, Oldham, has been sentenced for four years for conspiracy to handle stolen goods.
- Zeeshan Ali (26/08/1990) of Ennerdale Terrance, Tameside, has been sentenced for three years nine months for conspiracy to handle stolen goods.
- Adam Elwood (13/11/1993) of Kingston Avenue, Chadderton, has been sentenced for six years for two counts of handling stolen goods and drug offences.
- Mohammed Irfan (26/04/1998) of Malvern Street, Oldham, has been jailed for three years for conspiracy to handle stolen goods.
- James Hopkinson (06/01/1995) of Seatoller Court, Oldham, has been jailed for eight months suspended for 12 months.
Detective Constable Allan Barker said: “This has been a long and complex investigation.
“I am grateful to the Crown Prosecution Service who have given their time, expertise, and insight throughout this entire process.
“I am particularly grateful to our victims who came forward and enabled us to bring such a strong case against these men.
“This gang were extremely organised and had sophisticated connections in prominent areas across the globe.
“They were able to ship millions of pounds of stolen cars and vehicle parts overseas.
“International collaboration was essential to this investigation, and ultimately led to the arrest these men.
“We will continue to collaborate and share intelligence with our international partners to make they face justice for their crimes at home.”
Brit holidaymakers warned of HUGE bills as ‘rogue meet & greet’ firms at major UK airport park motors in wrong spot
By Jacob Jaffa
BRIT holidaymakers have been warned of the risk of huge bills thanks to “rogue meet and greet” firms parking cars in the wrong place at a major UK airport.
Drivers have faced charges of up to £100 thanks to shady unregulated companies posing as reputable parking services.
Gatwick Airport is one of the nation’s busiest and best, but the site has been targeted by a crop of unscrupulous parking businesses.
One driver claimed last year that he had to make his way home in a taxi after one such firm allegedly lost his Mercedes.
Another claimed that her motor had been taken on a 200-mile joyride while she was overseas.
Now, West Sussex Trading Standards have teamed up with the county’s police to urge travellers to take care when booking airport parking to avoid being ripped off.
The agency explained that it receives regular reports from customers who have had bad experiences with the services, but airport bosses say there’s nothing they can do.
Customers have reported issues including their vehicles being dumped in short-stay car parks while they are on holiday, leaving them facing a £100 penalty notice when they return.
