Fouad Arja arrested after allegedly stolen cars, excavator, trailers found in police probe
A man allegedly running an unlicensed car dismantling business has been charged with more than 35 offences following a police probe into co-ordinated vehicle theft in Sydney’s southwest. SEE THE PICTURES.
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A man has been hit with 37 charges after police allegedly found a number of stolen vehicles at a southwest Sydney property following investigations into co-ordinated vehicle theft.
In January, detectives from the Financial Crimes Squad’s Motor Unit conducted a compliance check at a site in Rossmore suspected of being an unlicensed motor vehicle dismantling business.
Investigators allegedly identified nine stolen vehicles at the premises, which were subsequently recovered, and confirmed the owner — Panania man Fouad Arja — was not licensed to operate the business.
He was directed to cease operations.
Strike Force Kyarra was subsequently set up to investigate the alleged theft of the vehicles.
In July, Australian Border Force officers acted on information from strike force detectives and intercepted a shipping container after it arrived at Port Botany to be exported.
It was allegedly found to contain three stolen excavators.
Meantime, police inquiries revealed Mr Arja had allegedly re-established his unauthorised business at another rural property in Austral.
On Thursday morning, detectives executed a search warrant at a business in Austral and allegedly found a Scania truck in the process of being stripped, a Kubota excavator, a low loader trailer, an engine belonging to Volvo prime mover, a Yamaha jet ski with trailer, an Audi Q7, a Toyota Rav 4 and a Borcat trailer.
It’s alleged all of the vehicles were confirmed to be stolen.
Mr Arja, now 38, was arrested and charged with 19 counts of knowingly deal in proceeds of crime, 10 counts of receiving stolen motor vehicles, four counts of dispose of motor vehicle, three counts of steal motor vehicle, and participate in a criminal group.
He was refused bail and did not appear at Liverpool Local Court on Friday, where his matter was adjourned to Monday, August 17 for an expected bail application.
Investigations are continuing and police say further arrests are expected.