Vehicle stolen in the UK resurfaces in Karachi
A luxury black Range Rover, stolen from the United Kingdom in late 2022, has been traced to one of Karachi’s busiest commercial areas, Saddar. Sindh police have begun an investigation following a request from Interpol to recover the vehicle and probe the international network suspected of trafficking stolen cars across borders.
According to police sources, the Range Rover was reported stolen on 22 November 2022 from Harrogate, a town in North Yorkshire, England. After extensive efforts by UK authorities to track its movements, Interpol Manchester alerted Pakistani officials earlier this year that the car was likely moved to Karachi.
How the vehicle was tracked
Interpol’s information revealed that the vehicle’s tracking system was initially disrupted in Leeds shortly after the theft. For several months, there were no reliable signals from the car’s security device. However, on 11 February 2025, a tracker ping was finally recorded in Korangi Road, Azam Basti, near Saddar in Karachi.
This discovery allowed Interpol to alert Sindh police, providing detailed data through the Stolen Motor Vehicle (SMV) database. The information included the vehicle’s chassis number, registration details, and a complete history of its theft. Local law enforcement is now working with Interpol to physically recover the car.
A larger cross-border investigation
Officials believe this case could uncover a wider criminal operation involving the smuggling of stolen luxury cars from Europe to South Asia. Similar cross-border thefts have been reported worldwide, such as the theft of an ancient Pharaoh’s gold bracelet from an Egyptian museum, which was later sold at a secret auction. Such networks typically exploit loopholes in customs procedures and often rely on forged documentation to pass stolen vehicles through ports.
Police sources suggest that the recovery of the Harrogate Range Rover could provide crucial leads. “This is not just about one car,” said a senior investigator in Karachi, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We are looking at an organized network that may have links across several countries. If we dismantle it, it could significantly curb international car theft operations.”
Sindh police step up efforts
Following Interpol’s alert, Sindh police have intensified search operations in Saddar and nearby areas. Law enforcement officials are working with vehicle registration authorities and customs departments to identify how the car entered Pakistan.
Officers have also requested assistance from Karachi’s traffic police to trace movements of vehicles matching the description. CCTV footage from busy intersections around Saddar and Korangi Road is being reviewed to establish whether the car has been relocated again since its last recorded signal.
Global problem of stolen luxury vehicles
The case highlights the growing issue of stolen luxury vehicles being trafficked internationally. According to Europol, thousands of high-end cars are stolen each year in Europe, with many ending up in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. Range Rovers, Land Cruisers, and BMWs are among the most targeted models due to high demand in countries where these vehicles are sold at premium prices.
Interpol’s Global Vehicle Crime Programme has repeatedly warned about sophisticated smuggling routes. In many cases, stolen vehicles are transported in shipping containers with falsified documents, making detection difficult without international intelligence sharing.
What happens next
Authorities in Karachi believe the recovery of this Range Rover will be an important test of Pakistan’s cooperation with international law enforcement. If successful, the operation could strengthen coordination between British police, Interpol, and Pakistani authorities in tackling cross-border crime.
While the immediate focus is on recovering the vehicle and returning it to its rightful owner in the UK, investigators say the broader goal is to expose the syndicate involved. The probe is expected to examine possible links with port authorities, car dealers, and shipping agents.
For now, Sindh police remain tight-lipped about specific leads. However, officials confirm that efforts are “in full swing” and that they are determined to crack down on the smuggling ring believed to be behind the theft.
