Malaysian authorities have broken up a syndicate smuggling luxury cars into the country from the United Kingdom and arrested a Briton described as the "mastermind", local media reported today.

Customs officers nationwide are now on the lookout for 77 Mercedes Benz cars and BMWs worth about RM46 million (US$12 million), having already seized 16 vehicles from a car dealer in Kuala Lumpur, an official said.

Direct links

Initial investigations revealed the syndicate had direct links with three car dealers in Britain via the Internet, Customs deputy director-general Abdul Rahman Abdul Hamid was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

"We also obtained records of buyers stored in diskettes. This will enable us to locate the owners and vehicles," he said.

Customs officials acting on a tip-off raided a luxury apartment in Kuala Lumpur and detained a local man and a 35-year-old Briton "suspected of being the mastermind for the syndicate here", seizing forged official seals and documents.

The syndicate would declare brand new cars as second-hand by tampering with mileage readings, Abdul Rahman said, thus avoiding the high import duties imposed on foreign cars in Malaysia. - AFP