POLICE are investigating a syndicate which has been stealing cars in Taiwan and smuggling them into Hong Kong before legally exporting them to China.
The syndicate was uncovered yesterday when officers from the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau detained two Hong Kong men and seized four Mercedes-Benzes reported missing in Taiwan.
Detectives are hunting another Hong Kong resident believed to be one of the key figures involved in the syndicate.
The Taiwan authorities have been told of the group's activities through the Interpol office in Hong Kong.
Sources said there was a new trend of local smugglers bringing in vehicles - mainly Mercedes-Benzes stolen in Taiwan.
'It is difficult for local authorities such as Customs to detect these vehicles as Taiwan does not circulate the information about the stolen vehicles to us,' one said.