Multiple Faces Detected
October 30th, 2020
As we go about our lives driving down any popular highway, we are likely to see emergency lights flash before our eyes as they go to help their patients in need. Ambulances are essential to our daily lives, they help with our emergency health issues or injuries, and are our everyday lifesavers, literally. But what if you learned that these vehicles that ares supposed to help save your life were filled with billions of dollars worth of hidden drugs or only had their sirens on to beat the traffic?
Fake Ambulances Smuggle Drugs Across the UK Border
That was the case in the United Kingdom when a gang of six men filled a fake ambulance with billions of pounds worth of drugs. When you looked inside and outside of this ambulance, it looked like a normal vehicle that was able to save your life. However, they were able to hide these drugs in secret compartments around the ambulance; including all the cabinets inside the emergency vehicle as well as its exterior panels.
With the drugs hidden well and not showing any reason for border patrol to be suspicious, they were able to board their ambulance on a ferry from Holland to the United Kingdom. When they got to the United Kingdom, they had a list of around 20 customers that they had to deliver drugs to. Each drug was marked with a colored piece of tape that signified which customer it needed to go to.
After about forty-five trips to and from the United Kingdom, authorities became suspicious when security footage was released to them showing the two fake ambulance employees and one fake patient from the impersonated ambulance. The “patient” was seen walking into the building with crutches and then walking out of the building without them, walking just fine. This was enough evidence for authorities to place a tracker on their vehicle.
The next time they boarded the ferry over to the United Kingdom, police officers were able to follow them into a car park where all six gang members were arrested. They were thrown into prison for 11-20 years for selling illegal drugs, and one person who drove the ambulance was disqualified to drive. All of their assets were seized, including 193 kilograms of cocaine, 74 kilograms of heroin, two kilograms of crystal meth, and 20,000 tablets of ecstasy.
The Taxi Ambulance
There was another instance in Russia where Moscow residents hired fake ambulances to take them across heavy traffic and reach their destinations. Acting like taxis, these fake ambulances charge around 200 American dollars an hour to go pick up their clients and drive with their sirens on so that cars would stop and make way for this fake ambulance.
The passengers would then get to where they need to be at a faster rate than if they were to drive their car or take the average taxis. Officials stated that they are doubling down on the issue and are looking inside random ambulances for luxury limousine decor that these “taxi ambulances” have.
What if You Spot a Fake Ambulance?
If you are ever suspicious of a certain ambulance, find a name or phone number of the company and reverse search it to make sure it is a legit ambulance. There is nothing worst than having an emergency and relying on an ambulance to help you that isn’t real. You can also call 911 if you ever suspect that an emergency vehicle isn’t what it seems.
