Contraband: Seized at Sea (2024) s01e03 Episode Script

1
50 miles due west of Florida
in the North Atlantic is the Bahamas.
Its proximity to the U.S.
makes it a smuggler's paradise.
One of its biggest illegal trades
Keep our ears open for the aircraft
to see if they spot anything.
is people.
You guys copy?
They're trafficked from all over the world
through a part of the Gulf Stream,
so treacherous that in 2023,
349 migrants didn't make it.
Standing by division. We don't know.
2533170.
Today, marine agents
are preparing for an interception.
We also are monitoring
the steer right now.
We're gonna be at 65202.
Aerial surveillance has spotted
an inbound Bahamian boat
believed to have a history
of human trafficking.
We'll bring the ship.
Off the Miami coast, the agents
rendezvous to await instructions.
Agent Rob is commander
of one of the vessels.
We have visual at the target coming
in. Air support has visual of it.
So, they're continue walking us in.
Now we're coming up with a game plan,
paying attention to the radio
because that target is gonna come
in around the 12 nautical mile.
We wanna make sure
that we can interdict it.
At the 12 nautical
mile mark, the target will be
within U.S. jurisdiction
and eligible for arrest.
But there's always a chance
of something going south.
The safety of my crew
and the vessel are paramount.
So, we hope that the vessel
will come down right away
and we won't have to shoot
warning rounds or disabling rounds,
because that's the risk factor
at that point goes up exponentially.
Because the agents suspect
the boat has a criminal history,
they prepare for armed resistance.
Yeah, I'm gonna stand to fight.
Listen, if they stop,
I'm gonna leave my shotgun.
- I'm gonna go with a pistol, okay?
- Roger.
Do not go by.
Go, go, go, go.
On the east coast of the United
States is the port of Newark
one of the largest
shipping ports in the country.
It handles approximately
seven million containers each year
from all over the world.
Willie, we'll be keeping you busy today.
But not all the cargo is legit.
Officers process 8000 imported
and exported cars each week
John, you pop the hood on this thing?
There you go.
and it's their job
to spot the stolen ones.
Two, three, echo, hotel.
Organized crime groups across the
country are hijacking people's cars
and shipping them overseas
to sell on the black market.
There's an epidemic
of stolen cars right now
and we're seeing
high end cars being taken.
They're not just stolen cars for
money for guys to have a good time.
This directly supports terrorism.
It supports a whole facet
of different things.
Human smuggling of children.
Narcotics plays a role in this.
It's an easy way to make money.
Today, Officer Noel
is on the hunt for a luxury vehicle
taken during a home invasion.
Dave, let me ask you,
she should have the tracking data.
She should have a gate in time.
Couldn't you use that to narrow it down?
Brand new and worth $70,000,
the owner believes her car
is at the Newark Port.
I received a phone call
from the New Jersey State trooper
stating that a woman
had contacted them about a GPS signal
that was emitting from a car
that was stolen from her residence.
The owner continues tracking its
signal and keeping Noel updated.
They can actually get data
as to when that container gated in.
In other words, when it came
up here and entered the dock.
The theft bears the hallmarks of an
international organized crime group
well known to US law enforcement.
You have gangs that are operating
here, Nigerian based gangs,
that have been identified by local,
state and federal authorities,
that are here specifically
for that of stealing vehicles.
So, they were getting orders
for specific types of vehicles,
and then bringing them in a location
to be placed in a container
and sent back to Nigeria.
Noel's team has pinpointed the GPS
signal to a stack of 60 containers
all due to leave the port within 24 hours.
We don't wanna just put stuff on hold or,
you know, pop containers
if it's looking like legit cargo.
In the office, using a list
of the 60 container's destinations,
Officer Richie is looking for
suspicious patterns
to help narrow down the search.
The details that we
already know about this situation,
it was a burglary of a house
where they're stealing
valuables from the houses
as well as getting the keys
and stealing the vehicle.
In 99 percent
of this particular technique,
our vehicle is going to West Africa.
The containers he's studied
so far aren't raising any red flags.
The categories we have
as consignee country,
where it's ultimately going
and there's countries on this list
that we just don't see stolen
vehicles going to from this port,
like Great Britain, The Netherlands.
So, I'm not really liking this list.
But with such a large list
and time running out,
Officer Richie must find a way
to identify the correct container
before it leaves US soil.
Updating position
to follows 2532.24 north.
1000 miles south in the North Atlantic,
agents are preparing
to intercept a Bahamian target
suspected of human trafficking.
We have visual at the target coming in.
Air support has visual of it. They're
gonna continue walking us in.
Now we're just coming up with a game
plan, paying attention to the radio,
because the target is gonna
come on the 12 nautical mile.
We wanna make sure that we can
interdict it right about there.
The target comes into view.
- Is that the target?
- Target is off our bow.
You guys ready?
We've got the target coming in.
We have a visual of it
about two or three miles out.
There we go. We're about to go live.
There he go, pushing up.
That's the target, right there!
That's it, right there.
It's blue, see the blue? The
Pro-line? Call it out, Pro-line?
Up ahead, the lead vessel
signals the target to stop,
- but it refuses to comply
- Two warning rounds!
leaving the agents no option
- Standby warning!
- Warning rounds!
but to discharge warning rounds.
Second one!
Two good!
Puerto Rico's proximity
between South America and the US,
makes it vulnerable to the
illegal importation of narcotics.
Customs and border protection
has strict permission protocols
for any yachts entering port.
Agent Justin is making his way
to the Puerto Del Rey Marina
where a yacht is making an approach
without notifying port authorities.
We got information on a vessel
coming from Saint Thomas,
therefore subject to customs authority.
We're gonna check their documents,
find out what their story is.
At 10:30 at night,
it's an irregular time
for a non-commercial vessel to dock.
If something is going on,
I don't wanna alert
everybody to what I'm doing,
because if that boat
does have contraband on it,
they're gonna look out
for law enforcement.
Yachts owned by private citizens
are sometimes used
for smuggling narcotics,
offering the ideal smoke screen.
First and foremost,
everything is about de-escalation,
because it could be a situation
where a little bit of talking
could get the job done.
Not everything needs to go south.
But in the back of my mind, I'm ready
for whatever they may throw at me.
At the marina,
port authorities are tracking
that the yacht is still incoming.
We're gonna take a walk down the pier.
Agent Mari joins Justin on the quayside.
It's a big boat.
Has a blue light on the back of it.
See if coming in?
Do you wanna stand
on the opposite side of this building
and keep an eye for it?
Mari spots the yacht docking.
It's back up right now.
- That's the one with the set.
- Big boat.
It's right Sunday,
end of the long period to the left.
- Inside or out?
- On the right hand side?
On the left, okay.
The agents approach with caution.
If the yacht does have smugglers
aboard, they could be dangerous.
- See those bodies?
- Yeah.
Stay quiet.
1000 miles north west
off the Miami coast
That's the target right there!
Standby warning!
- Two warning rounds!
- Warning rounds!
Second one!
Two good!
agents have fired
warning rounds at a target
suspected of human trafficking.
He's coming down.
We got it under control, so we're good.
The agents' suspicions are confirmed.
Hidden below deck
are several undocumented migrants
attempting illegal entry into the US.
Manning the boat
are two Bahamian traffickers.
Two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
We've got nine total.
That looks like we have
women and children on board.
I won't feel comfortable
till all the migrants
are out of the vessel
and everybody is detained.
Agents immediately arrest the traffickers,
separating them to prevent them
from coordinating their stories.
Right, we gotta go and help
them out here, secure those guys.
One of them was caught smuggling
last year using the same boat.
I got you, bro.
- You search him already?
- Yeah.
Next, the agents need to make sure
the migrants are in good health.
Hey, you guys have water?
You guys are good?
Some of them are drinking
water. We're trying to get
their biographical information.
Names, date of birth,
where they're coming from.
But, first of all, we make sure
- that the migrants are taken care of.
- Two males
from the Dominican Republic.
Most Dominican migrants head to the US
in the hope of better economic prospects.
- Where are you from?
- From Bahama, one Bahamian male.
Everybody's good?
Any medical emergencies?
That guy?
He's got elephantiasis, he has a disease.
In need of urgent medical attention,
the only Bahamian migrant
has a rare tropical disease.
Without treatment,
sufferers endure lifelong pain
and disfiguration of the limbs.
He's complaining of a lot of pain.
So, we may want
to start doing the evac soon.
Move to the front.
Agents waste no time
moving the migrants to their vessel.
Do me a favor. Sit here, okay?
Thank you. Just like that.
He's not doing too good.
You could see that.
Have you sit and roll.
The man with elephentiasis
Roll over, roll over!
We've gotta get you some help.
We got to get you on that boat.
is rapidly deteriorating.
He's the one that's sick.
We've got to get you on the boat, come on!
Responsible for his welfare,
the agents are concerned.
With limited medical
capabilities on board,
they need to get him to safety
- Feel better laying down, man?
- If you feel better sitting down,
sit down or lay down,
whatever you feel better.
before his condition
becomes critical.
Get this one out, man.
On the east side of Puerto Rico
at the Marina Del Rey
It's backing up right now.
That's a big boat!
A private yacht has docked late at night
without receiving the required
clearance from port authorities.
- Hello. Who's the captain?
- The captain is back here.
We're from Customs.
Agents Justin and Mari wanna know why
it hasn't requested permission to dock.
Did you do the ROAM on the
No, I haven't done anything.
I called to let them know
I was coming here.
The yacht's captain should've used
a Reporting Offside
Arrival App called ROAM
to request permission
It was agreed
that as soon as I docked here,
I was going to fill in the ROAM,
but you are here now.
Okay.
Claiming he's already
initiated the process,
Justin contacts the port authorities
to verify the captain's story.
He's telling us
that he's tried using the application
or he's called an talked to somebody.
I'm about to post the picture
of the name of the boat.
Yeah, it's a big ass boat.
On board, Mari presses the captain.
- You're the captain, correct?
- Yes sir.
Do you have the documents, please?
Okay.
Boss, are there any firearms
on board that you're aware of?
We're all weapons of Christ.
An evasive answer from the captain
further arouses Mari's suspicions.
- How many people are on board?
- Thirteen.
- Thirteen?
- Thirteen.
Thirteen not counting the crew.
Oh, 13 plus the crew, so 16.
Whose boat is this?
The captain confides in Mari
that the yacht's owner
is a world renowned Puerto Rican musician.
Okay. He's on board.
He and his family and friends
spent the day
in the British Virgin Islands.
You have to find
places that aren't crowded
because he gets accosted,
you know? They all just jump on him.
Yes. I've always wondered what life
is like for someone that famous.
No, you don't have a life!
His family just wants to have a nice time.
Loads of people on the dock?
Here? No, man,
we can't have that.
The captain's story is credible.
For his celebrity boss
sailing under the cover of darkness,
allows him to vacation in privacy.
Good evening. I think I called
you about 20 minutes ago.
I have the CBP maritime guys here
and when they're done processing me
then I'll start to fill
in the information.
It'll take me a little while.
The captain was in the process
of gaining permission to dock
when Justin and Mari arrived.
What else do you need?
I think we're good.
Once the process is completed,
the musician and his family
are free to disembark.
Thanks very much, have a good night.
We got a bunch of documentation
that verifies that they're the ones
that own the boat
and verified their story.
Nothing real suspicious.
He had problems with ROAM application.
So, the fact that we were
there kind of helped out.
1600 miles north west
in the continental US,
officers at the Port of Newark
are on the hunt for a stolen car
believed to be headed to West Africa.
It's a needle in a haystack, it really is.
The car's live GPS tracker indicates
it's in a stack of 60 shipping containers,
all due to leave port imminently.
So, I'm not really liking this list.
Unable to physically search all 60,
Officer Richie has been studying
the container's shipping manifests
and thinks he had a breakthrough.
Most of the containers from this port,
they'll leave this port and make
their way to a transshipment port.
When there's no direct route
to a container's final destination,
it's sent to a transit point
where it's loaded onto another ship.
Officer Richie knows
that any cargo bound for West Africa
will most likely go through Spain.
These two particular containers
are gonna be eventually stopping
in the transshipment port
of Algeciras, Spain
which is where the majority of
the steals are currently transiting
and that's following a pattern.
That's our pattern right there.
We're feeling good about
these two containers on this list.
That's that red box.
That might be it there.
Noel issues orders
to search the two containers
that will soon be going to Spain.
The car's owner confirms
it's still at the port.
The GPS location was basically
tracking in a general location
over a mile or two away,
but it was all staked in
like, a lotta containers.
We were able to maybe narrow
down possibly this being the one.
Is it gonna be? I don't know,
but we're going to find out.
Pop the containers!
No, it's tires, right?
The first container is clean.
Hi Bill, this is not it.
This one's it's just parts, man.
It's a disappointing result.
That box will now proceed
to a foreign destination
it was intended to go to.
Now, only one suspect container remains.
Noel has it seized and driven
to an inspection bay to be searched.
With just hours left, all hopes of
recovering the stolen luxury vehicle
before it leaves port are pinned on this.
He's the one that's sick.
Roll over, roll over!
We've got to get you some help.
We've got to get you on that boat!
12 miles off the coast of Miami,
agents have intercepted
several undocumented migrants
trafficked from the Bahamas.
Let's try and get this one out, man.
One Bahamian man is
severely ill with elephantiasis,
a painful tropical disease which
causes severe swelling of the limbs.
- So why you get in the boat?
- They can't help me in the Bahamas.
See, I just came from the hospital.
He's brought his medical records
in the hope of receiving
first world treatment in the US.
Oh, I got you, baby. I got you.
That's it, we good? Nothing else?
Now, safely transferred,
the agents transport
the migrants and two traffickers
to a coast guard cutter.
Okay, one by one. Ma'am,
you're going to have to go first
because you're
the closest one. But calmly.
Stand by, radar.
Once they're all on board,
they'll be processed
by officers on the ship.
They'll make a decision
whether to land the migrants
or to have them all deported
back to their home country.
In that time,
they'll be sitting on the cutter.
They won't make landfall.
That decision is out of our hands.
Last to board is the sick man.
Okay.
You gotta get on this boat.
Once you get on this boat,
you're gonna get hooked up.
But you gotta make it on this boat.
So weak that he's barely able to stand
Come on, you can do it!
You make it on this boat,
you get hooked up.
It's the last travel,
so we gotta get all the way up there.
See where that guy is, right here?
it takes four men
to get him on deck.
Come on. Step it up.
Yeah, there you go. Nice! Good job.
- Excellent, man.
- One more, brother.
This one is a short one.
You're good, right here, hold it!
Come up a little bit.
There you go. Hold this.
Hold this right here.
All right, come on. There you go.
- That's his medical records.
- Okay.
Now, we're gonna give you his stuff.
He'll receive medical care on dry land
before having his application processed.
It's a sad situation that we had
to interdict and get these people
off their dream to come
to the United States,
but we did it in a safe
and effective manner.
The traffickers will be transported
to Florida and charged.
- Anything else? We good?
- None.
- Chief, we're good.
- Yep, that's it, bud.
1000 miles south east,
off the west coast of Puerto Rico
The Dominican boat
has been tracked on radar,
heading deep inside US federal waters.
That's right, 2100, Mikey.
Radio check.
- It's clear.
- Clear!
A Puerto Rican boat is also in the area.
Agents suspect the two vessels
may be planning a rendezvous
in order to hand over contraband.
We are about five miles south.
I got eyes on it!
Get the boat hook!
We're getting closer.
Three miles
from the Mayaguez headquarters,
agents reach the local
Puerto Rican vessel first.
If it is involved in smuggling,
its crew could be armed and dangerous.
Good morning, Captain.
We're from Customs.
Good morning.
At first glance, the target
appears to be a fishing boat.
The cartels often recruit
working fishermen as mules.
So, we're gonna board the vessel.
We are in position.
Let's get closer.
Whatever on board, we're gonna check.
Call me Over.
While two agents
begin a search of the boat
Can you come and sit back here?
Agent Castro questions the fisherman.
How did the fishing go?
Did you catch anything?
- All good.
- That's great.
- Are you commercial?
- Yes, commercial.
My license is there.
- That one.
- There it is.
How long have you been out today?
Since about half past five.
Give me the administrative
paper please. Thanks.
So, right now we're gonna send
pictures of ID's, boat registration
to our guys in the office,
so they can run checks.
The fisherman's paperwork checks out
and there's no contraband
found on their boat.
This is for you, Sir, thanks so much.
Great thanks. Thanks for your time.
But it's possible the suspected contraband
hasn't been passed off
to this Puerto Rican vessel.
At this time, the Dominican
boat is still unaccounted for.
If you see a center console,
a boat riding heavy,
a big splash, something,
we're going to stop it and check it out.
Agents begin searching the area
for the Dominican boat in question.
Looks like we have a visual,
standby to intercept.
One mile west,
radar picks up the Dominican boat
they suspect of bringing
contraband into the US waters.
This is Mike, I have a target off my bow.
All right, ten-four, Sir.
I'm just right behind you,
a couple miles back.
Roger, understand.
He's coming towards me right now.
I'm gonna go ahead and stop him.
Yeah, 10-4, go ahead.
We'll be right over.
- 10-4.
- OKay, ready?
Ready.
With its 300 miles of inland waterways,
Fort Lauderdale is known as
the yachting capital of the world.
Good morning, guys.
Seas are calling less than 1 foot.
It's gonna be hot, it's very humid.
Let's go out and make some things happen.
Attracting boaters from around the globe,
it's home to a multi-billion dollar
marine tourism industry.
You're good.
Just like any airport,
customs and border protection
performs random searches
to intercept any contraband
crossing the international border.
Being that it's a Friday morning
and the seas are the nicest
that they've been most the week,
we're expecting a lotta traffic today
headed over towards the Bahamas.
People that are recreational
enjoying their weekends abroad.
Hey, Todd, Dan sent
something out, 04 by 02.
That's literally coming
in the inlet right there.
Agent Mike receives the coordinates
of an incoming vessel requesting entry.
It's informed port authorities
it has nothing to declare.
We got a target coming in. Looks
like somebody coming in from Bimini.
So, probably go out and check it out.
It's about a mile out.
So, we'll see what it is.
Most incomers here are regular tourists,
sailing in from the island of Bimini.
Because it's a smuggling hot spots,
agents are always on the lookout
for the boaters with something to hide.
Oh-five by oh-three.
- He's right at the head pin.
- He's right here.
He should be like, rolling in right now.
So this guy is already at the sea buoy.
We should see him coming in.
We'll get him
once he's on the inside here.
Vessel commander Todd spots the boat
If you are ready, I'm gonna spin around.
Yeah, I'm all set.
and signals it to stop.
- I got three, four on board.
- Yep.
Oh, five.
You got it?
The vessel complies.
- How are we doing today?
- Good, how are you?
All right, where you guys
coming from today?
- Bimini.
- Bimini, all right.
- What were doing in Bimini?
- Vacation.
You guys bring anything,
any excess $10,000,
any merchandise you wanna claim?
- Extra $10,000?
- Yeah.
No way!
As well as large amounts of cash,
agents are looking
for prescription medications,
alcohol and tobacco
over the permitted limits.
We're gonna hop on board.
Ladies, if you can move forward,
so we can hop on board.
Just the ladies.
Gentlemen, you can sit right there.
- Any weapons on board, Mike?
- Any guns, knives?
- Yeah, I've only got one handgun.
- One handgun. Where is that?
- In my luggage, in that thing there.
- Okay.
Typically, we like to know
that there is a gun on board
and probably where it is,
but generally we're not going
to request to see that gun.
If we find it through a vessel search,
obviously we'll clear it,
run the serial numbers,
make sure it's not stolen or anything.
But that's an item just like
somebody's wallet or backpack
and it's their personal effects.
As long as they're not
going for it, guns don't hurt.
People with guns hurt people.
Agents Mike and Alex decide
to check the vessel for contraband.
Hey, Cap, you ever
been stopped by customs before?
- You ever been stopped by customs?
- No.
You're coming in
from international waters,
so we're doing
a regular inbound inspection.
Same thing you'll get in an airport.
Basically a same thing.
If you guys do me a favor,
you got all your passports
- Yes, Sir.
- Everybody's United States citizen?
All right, if we can grab
those passports. Thank you.
As Alex searches the boat,
Todd spots a hazard from afar.
Watch those knives.
Watch those knives!
Watch the knife!
- Is that good? Okay.
- Oh, yeah.
I'm gonna put them in here.
When we ask if there are any weapons,
they assume we're speaking about guns,
but as you can see on all these boats,
there are bait knives
and filet knives all over the place.
So, every knife, every blade,
every pair of pliers that we see,
that's obviously a potential threat.
It can be a very dangerous situation.
Oh, you guys are stocked.
I'm good, Alex.
The boat is clean
and the tourists are allowed
to disembark at Fort Lauderdale.
This boat looks like
a recreational vessel.
Having a vacation,
doing a little bit of fishing.
We're just doing our due diligence
to make sure
all their documents are in order,
make sure they've got their passports.
Take our verbal declaration
as to what merchandise
they might be
bringing back into the country.
So, far it appears
to be legitimate traffic.
If you're going to Harbortown,
go to Harbortown.
He'll follow you wherever you wanna
go. All right, have a great day.
Take it easy. You folks
have a great day. Appreciate it.
- There were a lotta knives.
- There was, ton of knives.
You had two right next to your leg
and when they pulled
one of the backpacks out,
the side pocket also had one.
The brown one had a knife in it.
Yeah, you're absolutely right.
Keep your eyes open
for those knives next time.
Yeah.
Off the west coast of Puerto Rico
We have a target off my bow.
agents are about
to intercept a Dominican boat
which is deep inside US federal waters.
All right, 10-4, Sir, I'm just
behind you a couple of miles back.
It was spotted suspiciously
near a Puerto Rican boat,
a sign it could've been making
a contraband hand over.
Roger, I understand.
He's coming towards me.
I'm gonna go ahead and stop him.
- 10-4.
- Ready?
Ready?
I'm boarding it starboard.
I'm boarding it starboard.
- Starboard side, yeah?
- 10-4. Understand. Standby.
Hello Captain,
we're customs. Good afternoon.
How can I help?
Please prepare the port side,
we are going to board.
Good. Do you have any firearms?
None.
- Hey, Brian.
- Yo!
I'm gonna drop the rifle.
- Go to the front.
- Sure.
Earlier, agents checked the Puerto
Rican boat this vessel met up with,
but found nothing illicit.
It's not common to see boats out
here, so far out in the open ocean,
especially from Dominican Republic,
and then one vessel coming out
of Puerto Rico and meeting up.
That's usually not good news.
Agents question the two Dominican men.
- Have you always been fishermen?
- Yes, for many years
and I've never been checked before.
I heard that other guys
get checked from time to time.
They claim they're this far from home
in search of highly prized blue marlin.
We saw them this morning when we came out.
The other day we caught a marlin.
This part of the Atlantic,
known as the Puerto Rican trench,
produces some of the world's best marlin,
tempting eager sports anglers
to travel hundreds of miles.
That's great.
- We're at your disposal.
- Thanks.
Have a great afternoon.
Thank you.
The men explain
they were seen the Puerto Rican boat
because they were sharing tips
on where to find the catch.
Apparently, yesterday or two days
ago, couple of people came out here
fishing for marlin,
and then they caught some marlin.
So, they were out here
looking for the same.
That's why they came
specifically to this spot.
We checked their bait and whatnot.
To checking all the documents,
checking out what they were
doing. Their story checks out.
It was a great boarding.
The guys did a phenomenal job
and today was a good day, right?
On the east coast,
officers are trying to intercept
a woman's $70,000 luxury vehicle
- No!
- It's tires, right?
before it's illegally shipped to
West Africa by a car smuggling ring.
These two particular containers
are gonna be eventually stopping
in the transshipping
port of Algeciras, Spain,
where the majority of the steals
are currently transiting.
The drivers hopes
of recovering her stolen car
rest on one container still unsearched.
Behind a mattress
officers glimpse something suspicious.
Come on in, Paul!
Spring it straight in.
Inside are high end vehicles.
So, you got a BMW in the front, a SUV
and then behind there hanging on chains
also in a vertical fashion
is a Mercedes Benz.
The combined value is over $200,000.
We've got mattresses
to protect the cars from smacking in
and they've got that one
up against the roof of the container,
so they can maximize the space.
After two cars are carefully
extracted, one remains.
So, this definitely matches
the description
of the vehicle that was taken,
the vehicle that received
the GPS information.
So, we're gonna clear this out of the way.
The officers hunt is finally over.
You can see over there, the bumper is off.
There's some hanging wires inside.
Definitely it was loaded in a hurry,
you know, indicative
of vehicles that were stolen.
And yeah, they don't take the care.
The way they look at it, $70,000 car,
couple of thousand
to repair it and you're good as gold.
Early signs suggest
the thieves have left behind a clue
as to their identity.
Looks like we got a few prints here.
So, we might be able to pull some.
Hopefully, we get a hit on a suspect.
We're hoping for 70 percent to get
a suspect out of the home invasions.
That's our major thing
in New Jersey right now.
Noel has informed the owner
she'll be reunited with her car.
She's very happy and there's
personal effects that are in the car.
It could be just a picture
of a family member
you might have lost, might be
in that car. That's valuable.
So, it's a good feeling to find out
if you get that stuff back to them.
Last year nearly 17,000 car thefts
were reported in New Jersey alone.
This discovery could help route out
one of the many organized crime groups
behind America's auto theft epidemic.
We've seen cars as far away
as California being shipped out here.
Wisconsin, Minneapolis.
Recently we had car stolen
right off the Detroit assembly line
and sent down here and they
were being shipped overseas.
Noel will now hand the case over
to Homeland Security Investigations.
The guys that work on the team
from the person who targets it
to the guys looking for the containers
to the people making the
phone calls to get these containers,
to the local cop who took the report,
it all works together like a machine.
It's a cat and mouse game.
We'll do that until they figure out
that we're getting the cars,
and we'll have
to come across something else.