Two individuals were arrested following a highly complex investigation by the Malta Police into a group involved in an organised crime ring who was trafficking high-value stolen vehicles across Europe.

A police statement said that the vehicles were being brought into Malta using forged documents from various European Union countries and, after being kept in Malta for a few days, were then transported to North Africa and the Middle East.

The two suspects involved in the importation of these vehicles, both Libyan nationals, were arrested on Wednesday evening shortly after arriving in Malta from Pozzallo, Sicily.

They were driving a Toyota Land Cruiser and a Toyota RAV4 respectively, which were allegedly stolen and found to have forged documentation and tampered VIN numbers, the statement said.

Investigations also revealed that the same individuals, along with others forming part of the organised crime group, had allegedly transported other stolen vehicles to Libya in previous months.

At the same time, with the assistance of the Customs Department, several other vehicles that had been brought into Malta and were about to be transported to North Africa were confiscated in recent weeks, the statement said.

Magistrate Monica Borg Galea has been informed and has opened a magisterial inquiry.

One of the arrested men is expected to be arraigned in court today at around 11.30am before Magistrate Joseph Gatt.