This action by some luxury car owners was disclosed by Malaysian Federal Police (Bukit Aman) CID Director Mohamad Salleh, who said police were investigating this “new phenomenon”.

“Due to this, the owners smuggle the cars into Thailand and sell them to certain parties to earn some money.

“When banks or insurance companies want to seize the luxury cars, they will not only fail to find the vehicles but also the owners,” he told Bernama at the Royal Thai Police headquarters, here, today.

He said this after receiving 20 Malaysian-registered luxury cars, which were recovered by Thai police and will be sent back to Malaysia.

The cars were handed over by Thai Deputy Police Chief Gen Wuthi Liptapallop in a ceremony also attended by Malaysian Ambassador to Thailand Nazirah Hussain.

According to Mohamad, the owners of the luxury cars also did not lodge reports on the disappearance of their cars.

He said police would hold discussions with banks and the General Insurance Association of Malaysia to address this new trend in luxury cars disappearing.

“I have also instructed my officers to investigate and study these cases as it has become a new modus operandi.”

On the ceremony, he said the handing over of the cars showed the close cooperation between Thai police and Bukit Aman.

He expected more success would be achieved by the police forces of both countries in tackling cross-border crime.

Mohamad said senior police officers of both countries would meet in Kuala Lumpur in November to address issues relating to cross-border crimes.

Thai police, in a statement today, said 75 vehicles reported stolen in Malaysia, but recovered in Thailand, had been handed over to Malaysian police last year.

It said the 20 vehicles handed over to the Malaysian police today were estimated to be worth 20 million baht (RM2.35 million).