"Once the vehicle is in Algeria, it's dead": Marseille port, a hub for rental car trafficking

The port of Marseille has become a significant point for the illegal trafficking of rental cars, with alarming statistics emerging over the past two years. Reports indicate that around 120 rental vehicles have vanished after being tracked to this port. Criminals are exploiting the rental system, renting vehicles under false pretenses and then transporting them illegally to Algeria. This trend has raised concerns among rental agencies and law enforcement alike. Yohann Mimran, the owner of Olympic Location, shared his distressing experience of having a vehicle stolen. After renting out a Peugeot 3008, he discovered weeks later that it had been geolocated in Algeria. "Once the vehicle is in Algeria, it's dead. There’s no chance of recovery," he lamented, highlighting the financial loss of 30,000 euros. This case is not isolated; it reflects a broader issue where rental agencies face significant losses due to theft. The scale of the problem is staggering. In 2025 alone, France reported 64,000 vehicle thefts, leading to an estimated cost of 600 million euros for insurance companies. The police are on high alert, especially at the port where numerous vehicles are loaded onto ferries bound for North Africa. Agents from the border police are actively working to intercept suspicious vehicles before they leave French territory. A structured network appears to be behind this operation, with individuals merely acting as drivers for a more extensive trafficking organization. These vehicles, once in Algeria, are often resold or rented out through encrypted messaging platforms, making it difficult for authorities to track them. Rental companies are now investing in technology to combat this trend, including GPS tracking systems that allow them to monitor their vehicles in real-time. Despite these efforts, the challenge remains significant as the demand for rental cars in Algeria continues to rise.