Three Afghan Nationals Arrested for Storing Stolen Luxury SUV; Parts Allegedly Bound for Export to UAE
This article organizes publicly available information into a single account. Where it describes an arrest or an ongoing investigation, that reflects only one stage of criminal procedure and does not mean guilt has been established (the presumption of innocence applies). We will update this article as new information becomes available, including the outcome of prosecution, non-prosecution, or trial. This article is not intended to unfairly disparage any individual, group, nationality, ethnicity, or belief, and aims to provide objective, fact-based information.
The Metropolitan Police Department announced by March 13, 2026 that it had arrested Batoor Hayat (45), an Afghan national, along with two other men, on suspicion of storing stolen property. They are accused of storing a stolen luxury SUV at a yard in Koga, Ibaraki Prefecture, in October 2025, despite knowing it had been stolen. The vehicle had been stolen from a residence in Chiba City.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, Hayat and the others were dismantling the vehicle at the yard, and some of the parts were reportedly packed into shipping containers for export to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In November 2025, police searched the container and seized the dismantled parts. Parts from eight other vehicles were also found in the container, and police are investigating any connection.
Current status: The three men have reportedly denied the allegations under questioning, saying things like "I have absolutely no knowledge of this." As of this writing, it remains unclear whether they will be referred for prosecution or indicted, or the full scope of any additional offenses. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Other reported cases of organized vehicle theft involving dismantling at yards and export overseas include the theft and smuggling of more than 300 Toyota HiAce vans allegedly carried out by four men of Ugandan and Nigerian nationality (related coverage), and a Toyota Land Cruiser theft case (related coverage). These cases point to yards in the greater Kanto area being repeatedly exploited as hubs for dismantling and exporting stolen vehicles.