FBI probe at Miami auto shop ends in owner’s arrest for having stolen car: cops

The raid of a Miami auto sales and repair shop on Wednesday morning ended in the arrest of the owner for having a stolen vehicle on his property, authorities said.

In an investigation that involved the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and the FBI’s New York Division, officers went to Cube Motors at 333 NW 79th Street to execute a search warrant, according to the arrest affidavit of Aslan Abdullayev, 37.

The business sells cars and does body and mechanical repairs, authorities said.

Officers found a 2019 white Mercedes GLE 45 parked in the for-sale section of the business. Authorities say an inspection of the car showed that it was titled in Texas. A records check of the car showed that it had been reported missing by the New York Police Department.

Authorities say an inspection of the car revealed the Vehicle Identification Number label had been replaced with a different one, which they describe as being “of inferior quality to those manufactured and applied by the Mercedes-Benz group.”

The car is worth $67,544, authorities say.

While detectives were inspecting other vehicles, Abdullayev arrived. Abdullayev was unable to provide detectives with any paperwork or title for the car.

Abdullayev is charged with grand theft, selling a vehicle with an altered ID and counterfeiting a VIN decal. Jail records show he is on an immigration hold and remains locked up at the Metro West Detention Center in Doral as of Friday afternoon.