Officials seized in Moscow raids on suspicion of role in car-theft ring

Several high-ranking officials of Moscow's Road Safety Administration were taken into custody Monday evening as a team from the State Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs raided the agency's offices on Sadovaya-Chernogryazsk St. here and a unit office of the Road Patrol on Dmitrovsky Road. The offices of those arrested were searched. A large amount of money and some firearms were reported seized.

According to early information, the raids are connected with an investigation of car thefts in Western Europe and the issuance of legal papers for the vehicles in Moscow. Investigators suspect that several persons in the Safety Administration leadership are involved.

The information arm of the Internal Affairs Ministry confirmed the raid but declined further details.