The authorities have accused a group of seven individuals from Japan, Brazil, Fiji, and Afghanistan of orchestrating a car theft operation in the city. According to police reports, the group allegedly stole 60 vehicles across the region between October 20 and December 1.

Investigators claim the stolen cars were intended to be shipped to the United Arab Emirates, where they would yield an estimated profit of $9 million.

The alleged scheme came to light when two stolen Land Cruisers were brought to a wrecking yard in Rocklea on December 2.

At around 2:30 am that day, police declared the location a crime scene. During their investigation, they discovered the vehicles inside a shipping container, cleverly concealed behind a facade of dismantled car parts.

So far, authorities have managed to recover 15 of the stolen Toyotas, with the remaining vehicles believed to have already reached the UAE.

The seven men, aged between 28 and 45, have been arrested and charged with over 300 offences.

South Brisbane District Detective Inspector Paul Dalton said the men were all in Australia legally.

He alleged they stole the cars without keys and within minutes with a method only seen before in Victoria. 

“It’s brazen. I’ll use the word bespoke,” he said.

Brisbane Detective Acting Inspector Russell Joyce said it was unclear why the men were allegedly targeting Toyota cars in Brisbane.

Joyce also stressed that the companies that moved the shipped containers did so without knowledge of what was contained inside.

The inspectors were unable to say exactly how the seven men were connected and how their alleged operation came to be, but said investigations were ongoing. 

Of the seven men, a 29-year-old, 40-year-old, 44-year-old and 45-year-old were each charged with 60 counts of stealing a vehicle and six counts of attempted stealing of a vehicle.

A 28-year-old was charged with 17 counts of stealing a vehicle, and a 31-year-old was charged with 32 counts of stealing a vehicle.

They will all remain behind bars until they appear at the Brisbane Magistrates Court later this month.

Another 40-year-old was charged with two counts of stealing a vehicle and will face the same court later this month.

Police have assured the community that there is no ongoing threat to the community.