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Drug Dealers Used 2010 Dakar Rally to Do Business

The tuning industry has been on a constant growing trend over the years and now customers can order whatever crosses their mind, being sure that there will be at least one modifier who will give birth to the creation of their dreams.

However the tuning phenomenon isn’t a strong presence in the commercial vehicle segment, especially when it comes to trucks. It seems like the aftermarket companies are missing a big opportunity here, as they have failed to identify a new potential target: the transportation segment of the drug traffic industry.

No, we haven’t been using anything illegal, we were just inspired by a statement issued by the Spanish police, which shows that a drug smuggling organization created a custom drug transport truck and disguised it as a Dakar rally support vehicle.

The mind-blowing (literally) vehicle was fitted with 814 kg of cocaine and 15,000 ecstasy tablets. It also came with 4.5 kilograms of hashish, which increased its utility. Its interior spoiled the passengers with two guns and a carefully (or not) hidden cash pack of $64,000.

The truck couldn’t be distinguished from true Dakar vehicles, as it came in a Dakar traditional livery and was driven by men in racing uniforms.

"The vehicle had been totally transformed to adapt it to its supposed participation in the competition as a support truck, with publicity and logos of the event painted on its side," foxsports.com reported, citing the police statement. “The drug trafficking ring even provided the vehicle with all the necessary technical and logistical material, including the official uniform of the competition."

The bespoke truck was part of the Dakar convoy during the crossing of Argentina and Chile. The Police found out about the whole story and seized the truck in Bilbao.

The price (in years of detention) for the package has not been released yet, but we expect it to surface once the investigation is complete.
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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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