Luxury Car Ring Leader Arrested in Albania

Francesk Pashku, alias Fran Malacoj, was arrested on Wednesday by Albanian police. Pashku, an Albanian national with US citizenship, had been wanted for more than a decade as the suspected leader of ring that sold stolen cars in several US states.

A US district court in Jacksonville, Florida, had issued an international arrest warrant for 43-year-old Pashku, who is accused of being responsible for more than 120 thefts. Pashku has been charged with grand theft auto and dealing in stolen property.

According to the Florida Times Union, the Jacksonville metro area newspaper, US officials believe that most of the luxury cars and sport utility vehicles were stolen from Manhattan, subsequently given new vehicle identification numbers and titles, and then sold around the United States.

Francek Pashu a.k.a Fran Malocaj

After the bust, which involved several law enforcement agencies, police recovered 29 vehicles valued at $1.2 million (835,000 euros). The cars included several BMWs, a Lincoln Navigator, a Mitsubishi Montero and a Ford Explorer.

Many of the cars were sold in Jacksonville for $10,000 to $30,000 below market value.

Police arrested at least a dozen other Albanian immigrants in connection to the investigation.

Pashku is currently being held in an Albanian high security prison pending extradition to the United States to stand trial.