European authorities dismantle massive US car import fraud ring

European law enforcement agencies have exposed a large-scale criminal operation involving the fraudulent import of salvage vehicles from the United States. Organized groups purchase damaged or written-off cars in the US and transport them to Europe, where they undergo only cosmetic repairs before being sold as undamaged vehicles.

In a major investigation dubbed ‘Nimmersatt’, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) conducted approximately 200 raids across ten countries, involving roughly 1,000 police, tax, and customs officials. One specific criminal chain operating in Lithuania alone sold at least 16,500 imported vehicles, totaling approximately 144 million euros in sales.

These fraudulent practices pose significant safety risks, as vehicles may have non-functional airbags or compromised structural integrity. In the Latvian used car market, data indicates that 58.5% of inspected vehicles have a history of damage, and the average cost of repairs has risen to 3,371 euros.