POLICE stopped and checked nearly 60 vehicles as part of an international operation in Essex.

The vehicles, including 41 HGV’s, were part of a search for vehicles stolen by international crime gangs.

Officers from Essex Police, the Metropolitan Police, Interpol, the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service, National Crime Agency and investigators from Germany, Austria, Sweden and Spain were involved in the operation.

Essex Police motorbikes and Met Police traffic cars were used to intercept heavy goods vehicles and vans using the M25 and A13.

The vehicles were escorted to the Thurrock services area where officers from the Essex Police Commercial Vehicle Unit, other forces and officials from the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators checked the vehicles and their loads.

Investigations have shown that southern Essex is a potential hotspot for the movement of vehicles or parts stolen in Britain and in mainland Europe.

Cars stolen in Essex and neighbouring counties have been found hidden in containers waiting to be shipping through ports such as Tilbury, Harwich or Felixstowe. Vehicles stolen in Europe have been found in Essex awaiting shipment to Africa or other continents.

DC Paul Gerrish, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, one of the organisers of the operation, said the theft of cars, vans or lorries was an international crime being carried out by highly organised gangs.

"We are working closely with Interpol and the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service to investigate these crimes and regular operations are carried out on major routes through the county and at ports.

"Specialist investigators from Germany, Austria, Sweden and Spain are here for a week to help us with enquiries and also to help us examine vehicles and gather useful information from drivers.”

A total of 59 vehicles were stopped, including 41 HGVs, mainly foreign-registered trucks.

A number of transport offences were detected including a van without insurance, drivers working over their permitted hours, an HGV and trailer found to be two tons overweight, a van was prohibited from the road for a mechanical defect and two drivers were ordered to pay fines which had not been paid for previous offences in the UK. A total of £2,300 was collected in fines.

Essex detectives are also continuing investigations after the discovery of two sites where stolen cars have been stripped for parts.

Two men from north and east London were arrested on February 11 after detectives executed a search warrant at a business site near Stondon Massey. Officers seized vehicles parts valued at more than £1million which were later found to be from stolen high value prestige vehicles. The two men, who were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods, are currently on bail.

Stolen vehicles and hundreds of vehicle parts were also recovered when police searched an industrial unit at Wickford on March 13.

Essex detectives have appealed for information about suspicious activity at any industrial or farm units where cars may be dismantled behind closed doors. Officers especially want to hear about any sites where relatively new or undamaged cars or vans are being stripped for parts.

Anyone with information should call Essex Police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.