Vigilance can report that a Lamborghini Aventador seized as part of Operation Cubo was auctioned, last week (Thursday, 17 October) and it fetched £218,000.

The car was said to have been seized by Metropolitan Police Service's (MPS) Safer Transport Command (STC) officers in Romford Road, Newham on 1 October.

A police source said it was originally stopped as it had no front index plate and subsequent checks showed that the man driving the vehicle was not the registered owner and his insurance policy did not cover him to drive this high-value vehicle which was ultimately seized for no insurance.

The police source said detectives from the MPS Operation Reclaim team investigated the legitimacy of the vehicles ownership, adding several parties came forward to make claim on the vehicle, but none was able to satisfy the team regarding their lawful ownership, so the vehicle was therefore auctioned.

Detective Inspector Richard Smith from Operation Reclaim said: "Once again the actions of keen frontline officers and tenacious investigators have resulted in depriving someone of a high value asset. A situation easily avoided if the vehicle's owner has it properly registered, can prove it is legitimately owned and anyone driving it is insured."

Whilst Detective Superintendent Neil Thompson, head of Operation Reclaim said: "Seizing vehicles and removing from criminals their mode of transport denies them the use of the roads and transport hubs, thereby reclaiming London's roads for responsible and law-abiding citizens. We are committed to this type of post-Cubo activity and a visible presence will act to reassure the public and increase their confidence in our service. The money generated from the sale of this vehicle will be invested in frontline policing in the capital.”