By Shawn Henry 
A months-long investigation into an Opa-locka auto parts business ended with the arrest of its owner, who authorities say orchestrated a large-scale operation involving stolen vehicles and components bound for overseas buyers. Miami-Dade deputies took 47-year-old Roohullah Abdul Rauof into custody this week, alleging he ran Shine Motors as a front for a sophisticated theft and export scheme.
The case gained momentum in late September when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at PortMiami inspected a shipping container tied to Shine Motors and found three vehicles reported stolen in Miami-Dade. Alongside them, investigators said they located four engines linked to theft cases handled by Miami-Dade, Broward, Pembroke Pines and Plantation authorities. The shipment was headed for the United Arab Emirates, according to arrest records.
That discovery prompted the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Auto Crimes Task Force to inspect Shine Motors’ facility on Cairo Lane in mid-October. Deputies reported finding numerous parts traced to vehicles stolen from cities including Miami, Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale. They also documented 274 unassigned Florida titles and several vehicles that had not been properly reported to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, a requirement for legitimate dealers.
Investigators said Abdul Rauof acknowledged he lacked purchase records or legal documentation for the vehicles and engines stored on the property. Authorities estimated the recovered stolen property at more than $214,000.
Deputies returned to the business this week to arrest Abdul Rauof on 45 felony charges, including operating a chop shop, grand theft auto, dealing in stolen property and filing false vehicle paperwork. In addition, he faces more than 200 misdemeanor counts tied to improper title transfers.
He remained jailed Wednesday at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a bond set at $145,500.
All parties are innocent unless proven guilty.
John 
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