LONDON — Metropolitan Police seized a haul of luxury vehicles, including a rare Ferrari Monza SP2 valued at £3.7 million, during a two-day operation across West London. The crackdown, between Aug. 7 and Aug. 9, focused on Hyde Park, Kensington and Chelsea. The total value of impounded vehicles exceeded £8 million.
The Ferrari Monza SP2, a limited-edition model, had only 499 units produced globally in 2018. Its initial sale price was over $1 million, with its collectible value rising to £3.7 million on the secondhand market. This particular vehicle was confiscated from a supercar meet-up near Wellington Arch.
Authorities impounded most of the seized cars for lack of insurance. Drivers also faced complaints from residents over fast and erratic behavior on West London's streets.
Video footage showed a Metropolitan Police officer driving the seized Ferrari through Mayfair, accompanied by a police escort, drawing wide commentary online.
The Motor Insurers' Bureau assisted police in the operation, with a focus on uninsured drivers, a key factor in many of the confiscations.
The operation follows similar enforcement actions. Last year, officers seized 70 supercars worth approximately £7 million during a single weekend, also targeting luxury vehicles across affluent West London neighborhoods.
That haul included high-performance models such as Ferraris, Porsches and two purple Lamborghinis. In one instance, the driver of a purple Lamborghini had been in the United Kingdom for only two hours when police impounded the vehicle.
The ongoing seizures address persistent complaints from residents in Hyde Park, Kensington and Chelsea, where drivers of high-performance vehicles have repeatedly disrupted local streets.
The Metropolitan Police has been approached for comment.
