Car-Theft Ring Targeting NYC Airports Busted
Jennifer Billock November 06, 2015
Rental cars and airport parking lots have recently been targeted in a car-theft ring at New York City airports.
After more than a year of investigation including wiretaps, informants, and other surveillance techniques, an extensive car-theft ring was discovered in New Jersey and at New York City airports. The ring allegedly involved 21 men and resulted in the loss of 71 vehicles, ranging from luxury to economy cars, from both airport parking lots and rental car lots.
The ring was operated out of a shipping container lot in the Bronx, allegedly run by 57-year-old Dramane Doumbia, the Wall Street Journal reported. The men would bring fake IDs and credit cards to airport car rental counters, rent a car, then load it onto a shipping container in the lot to be sent to West Africa. Fraudulent rentals occurred at LaGuardia airport and JFK International airport, and hooked up to Guinea, Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast.
During Doumbia’s Bronx Supreme Court arraignment, he pleaded not guilty but was considered a flight risk by prosecutors. His bail was set at $500,000.
The investigation was named “Operation Cruise Control” by the Attorney General’s office. Two suspects allegedly rented the cars, others identified buyers in West Africa, and still others helped load the cars into the shipping containers.
Two of the rental car companies involved, Avis and Hertz, told the Wall Street Journal that security systems have been enhanced and the companies are cooperating fully with authorities. Enterprise did not comment on the case.
[Photo: Getty]
