Australian car theft rings ship stolen vehicles to UAE for parts destined for Iran and Russia
Organised crime groups are stealing Australian cars, sending them to the United Arab Emirates where they are dismantled and the parts are shipped to Iran and Russia.
According to the Insurance Council of Australia, organised crime networks are targeting Australian vehicles, loading them into shipping containers and routing them to the United Arab Emirates. In the UAE the cars are broken down and the parts are exported to Iran and Russia, where sanctions limit legitimate supply. Melbourne leads the nation in thefts, with two-thirds of stolen cars never recovered locally.
Victoria recorded over 12,300 theft claims in the 2025-26 financial year, amounting to $244.3 million in losses, while Queensland and New South Wales saw 6,200 and roughly 5,500 claims respectively. Police raids at ports in Melbourne and Brisbane have uncovered hidden stolen cars, and arrests have been made linked to an international syndicate. Insurers warn that the growing flow of stolen vehicles is inflating premiums, which have risen about 50 percent since 2019.
