LONDON, UK – A Zimbabwean couple living in East London has been arrested in connection with what police describe as a “highly organised” luxury car smuggling operation worth millions of pounds.
Tendai Chigova (41) and his wife Melissa Chigova (35) were taken into custody after an early-morning raid on their Stratford apartment, where officers seized keys to multiple high-end vehicles, forged vehicle registration documents, and over £250,000 in cash stuffed into suitcases.
According to investigators, the couple allegedly coordinated the theft of luxury cars — including Range Rovers, BMWs, and Mercedes-Benz models — from across the UK, before shipping them to buyers in West Africa and the Middle East.
Detective Sarah Donnelly of the Metropolitan Police’s Vehicle Crime Unit described the case as “one of the largest smuggling networks we’ve disrupted in recent years,” adding that the Chigovas are believed to have been active for over four years.
Shocked neighbours told reporters they had no idea the quiet, well-dressed couple were allegedly involved in such crimes. “They were polite, always smiled, and drove nice cars… I just thought they had good jobs,” said one resident.
The couple is expected to appear at Southwark Crown Court later this month. If found guilty, they could face up to 15 years in prison under UK trafficking and theft laws.
Social media in Zimbabwe and the UK lit up with reactions, with many comparing the pair to “London’s own Fast & Furious crew.”
