

TOTOWA — At least 29 people have been charged in an international carjacking ring that stole luxury vehicles in New Jersey and New York before shipping the cars to West Africa, authorities said.

Approximately 160 cars valued at more than $8 million were recovered in "Operation Jacked," a 10-month investigation. Most of the cars were recovered at Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal and the Howland Hook Marine Terminal in Staten Island, N.Y., the places from where the ring did most of its shipping, acting Attorney General John Hoffman said at a press conference at the State Police barracks in Totowa.

A poster displayed by authorities at a press conference announcing the arrests of suspects in a car theft ring.

While warrants have been issued for six of those believed to be involved, 23 others have been arrested, Hoffman said. The seven ringleaders are from Newark, Irvington, Belleville and Roselle, he added.

The ring targeted luxury SUVs including Land Rovers, Mercedes-Benz, Acuras, Porches Jaguars and Aston Martins, according to authorities.

Of all the recovered vehicles, 27 are believed to have been taken in carjackings

The carjackers were paid between $4,000 and $8,000 to steal cars and sell them to fences.

"Carjackers are driven to steal and even to murder by the demand that exists for luxury stolen vehicles," Hoffman said.

Many of the carjackers targeted people by bumping them from behind on highways, causing minor accidents and then carjacking the vehicles when the victim pulled over. Thefts also commonly occurred at airports and car washes while the vehicles were running. Thieves would also rob valets, Hoffman said.

Thieves would then let the vehicles "cool off" at garages and other hiding spots before moving them to a fence, authorities said.

The seven ringleaders, according to authorities are:

• Leon Nii-Moi, 35, of Roselle

• Kyle Champagnie, 27, Irvington

• Saladine Grant, 39, Irvington

• James Hemphil, 41, Belleville

• Omar Smith, 39, Newark

• Demarco Sparks, 40, Newark

• Deandre Stevenson, 41, Newark

All are charged with the second-degree crime of leading an auto theft trafficking network, racketeering, money laundering and fencing. They allegedly also assumed the roles of fence and thief as part of the ring.

The investigation was led by the state's Department of Criminal Justice, the State Police, Port Authority police and U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement.

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