Sometimes, the best weapon in law enforcement’s arsenal is a criminal’s tool. That’s exactly what happened to a Ferrari 458 Italia, originally seized as contraband, now repurposed as the latest pursuit vehicle in the service of the Czech Republic’s police force.
A seized Ferrari 458 Italia is now the newest member of the Czech Republic's police force
On its website, the Policie České republiky (Police of the Czech Republic) announced that the confiscated sports car is now decked out in the agency’s official colors, ready to be deployed against reckless drivers on Czech roads. The vehicle will also be used to chase down stolen cars as well as conduct surveillance operations at tuning events and street races.
That the Ferrari begins its new life as an instrument of law and order is testament to the Czech government’s efficiency. “If I were to mention one of the activities in which we significantly succeed in using legal authorizations, I must mention the securing of assets originating from criminal activities,” said Gen. Tomáŝ Kubik, Deputy Chief of Police.
The mid-engine sports car runs on a 4.5-liter V8 rated at 456 horsepower and 540 Nm of torque
He adds that in 2021, the Czech police force was able to recover almost CZK 7 billion (over Php 16.1 billion) worth of assets from criminal activity. The Ferrari 458 in question was not even the rarest nor most expensive vehicle that they seized, with the vast majority of the more than 900 vehicles recaptured sold to the public.
Hundreds of confiscated vehicles now belong to the police force, used to combat illegal activity throughout the country. However, the Ferrari is likely the most luxurious of these police assets by far, with just 2,000 kilometers on the odometer.
The Ferrari 430 Scuderia (right) seized by the Philippines' Bureau of Customs has already been sold
Even so, the Czech police says the recovered sports car still represents significant cost savings for the force. Modifications and installation of standard police equipment such as a camera system and special warning lights amounted to just CZK 340,000 (Php 782,000), cheaper than purchasing a brand-new Škoda Scala which starts at CZK 417,900 (over Php 961,000).
This calls to mind another seized Ferrari, a 430 Scuderia, that its owner offered to Philippine authorities as a police car. Last we heard, the government finally managed to sell the car at auction last June. It’s a missed opportunity for our local cops, although we do have to consider the challenges of maintaining such a vehicle.
See how seized vehicles can still benefit the country at Philkotse.com.