LOS ANGELES - Border patrol agents intercepted 20 stolen high-end vehicles at the Los Angeles and Long Beach Port bound for Hong Kong and Vietnam, authorities announced Tuesday.The vehicles were valued at $1.5 million and included Ferrari, Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Infiniti and Audi brands. Authorities said smugglers used false identities to lease or purchase the brand new vehicles, defrauding local dealerships, banks and insurance companies. The vehicles were falsely listed at "used fitness equipment" on the cargo ships. A GPS device inside the Ferrari apparently led agents to the vehicles.

********** Published: April 5, 2012 - Volume 10 - Issue 51