A request to install a hidden compartment in a 2018 Dodge Charger, worth an estimated $43,875, raised a red flag with a Littleton businessman. Further scrutiny of the odd request snowballed, exposing an organized ring that dealt in stolen luxury vehicles and had ties to black market marijuana that was being shipped across the country, according to court documents.

In some cases, the stolen vehicles were used to ship marijuana. Other times, the suspects sold the high-end vehicles to unsuspecting victims who paid big bucks for vehicles that have now been seized. Suspects also used some of the flashy stolen vehicles for their personal use.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority announced Wednesday the arrests of eight suspects, four of whom were wanted on warrants stemming from an Arapahoe County grand jury indictment. Four others were contacted in a series of metro-area raids Wednesday morning.

“Criminal organizations use the marijuana industry in Colorado to operate in not only black-market marijuana cultivation and distribution but also many other criminal-related activities,” said William McDermott, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Denver field division.

The suspects indicted by the Arapahoe County grand jury are Joshua Robertson, Sage Greco, David Guzman, Cody Kerstiens, Jason Siew and Brian Richburg. Two of the suspects named in the indictment remained at large Wednesday.

“There were no injuries. Everything went off without a hitch,” said Cmdr. Mike Greenwell, of the Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force.

Federal, state and local authorities have been investigating for six months.

Eight search warrants were executed Wednesday morning at homes in Aurora, Arvada and Federal Heights, where stolen vehicles were stored and illegal marijuana grows were being run, authorities said.

About 17 stolen vehicles, valued at $1.2 million, were recovered throughout the metro area. Among the stolen vehicles were a black Lamborghini and a silver Mercedes S550 convertible worth an estimated $100,550, according to the indictment.

High-end pickups and SUVs were among the stolen vehicles. The vehicles were stolen from out-of-state dealerships and brought to Colorado, where vehicle identification numbers were altered and fraudulent title documents were used to register vehicles, as well as sell them to victims.

“There were multiple people victimized because they’re buying high-end, luxury vehicles and thinking they’re getting a good deal, and they’re actually stolen,” said Randy Ladd, a Denver-based DEA special agent. “But when they go to register the cars, they don’t register as a stolen vehicle because the VIN was switched with vehicles that have not yet been stolen.”

Some victims unknowingly purchased the stolen vehicles through websites such as Craigslist, Ladd told The Denver Post.

“One of the other things we would like to get out is if somebody thinks the deal is too good to be true, it probably is,” Ladd said.

Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Arizona, Maine and California were among the states involved in the investigation. Also seized Wednesday were handguns and rifles.