Brazilian Businessman Arrested with Cloned Toyota Corolla Cross Valued Over R$200,000A 35-year-old businessman was detained by Brazil's Federal Highway Police (PRF) during an operation on the BR-040 highway in Juiz de Fora. The suspect was found driving a cloned Toyota Corolla Cross XRX Hybrid, a vehicle valued at more than R$200,000.
Authorities confirmed that the original vehicle had been reported stolen in Rio de Janeiro on April 11. The car in the suspect's possession was identified as a clone, meaning its identification numbers had been altered to match a legally registered vehicle.
During the police approach, the businessman claimed he had purchased the car online from an individual he met through a vehicle sales website. This statement is now part of the ongoing investigation.
The case highlights the persistent issue of vehicle cloning and theft in Brazil, where criminals often use sophisticated methods to disguise stolen cars and sell them through online platforms to unsuspecting buyers.
The suspect was taken into custody, and the cloned vehicle was seized as evidence. The investigation continues as police work to trace the origins of the cloning operation and identify any other individuals involved.