Official figures show the economic impact and criminal chain that feeds the sale of illegal auto parts
News Colombia.
In the first seven months of 2025 more than 25,000 incidents related to the theft of vehicles and auto parts: 19,638 motorcycles, 5,100 cars and 2,900 pieces. This volume of illicit represents an economic impact that is approaching 410,000 million pesos and reveals the existence of a complex and profitable illegal chain.
Thieves usually choose vehicles for their demand in the spare parts market. In the car segment, the most frequently reported are Toyota, Kia, Chevrolet and Mazda.
Among motorcycles, brands Bajaj and Akt They appear more frequently due to the large number of units in circulation, which facilitates their disarmament and marketing of pieces.
How the illegal circuit works
The theft is just a link. The irregular income of spare parts by smuggling – stated in around the 10 % of the imported total, equivalent to some 260 million dollars In 2024— it is intertwined with the stolen pieces. This combined flow creates clandestine offer that competes directly with workshops and formal shops, reducing sales and quality in the automotive value chain.
Among the components that rotate the most in the black market are platesthe side mirrorsthe tires and the Electronic Control Units (ECU)due to its high demand and ease of resale.
An example of the logistical scope of these networks occurred August 24 in Bogotá: The theft of 986 Willard batteries In a winery, with an approximate value of 800 million pesosshowed the ability to mobilize large lots of auto parts.
The consequences are multiple: legal shops are reduced their sales, which affects investment, employment and technical training; Insurers record higher costs; and the circulation of pieces without certification increases risks in the tracks.
Together, these factors erode the competitiveness of the sector and user safety.
Proposals to contain the illegal market
The sector raises concrete actions that combine control, prevention and sanction:
- Traceability: Identify and control critical auto parts with serials and greater inspection on borders and wineries.
- Responsible purchases: Demand technical support and certifications in each transaction.
- Judicial Action: Prioritize processes against those who receive and market stolen parts.
- Education and trust: Campaigns to promote legal spare parts and authorized points stamps.
- Strengthening formal employment: Support training in new technologies and favor formal suppliers in public purchases.
- The theft of vehicles and the irregular entrance of spare parts form a market that affects the entire automotive chain: users, workshops, importers and insurance. Facing this phenomenon requires simultaneous measures in control, culture of purchase and judicial sanction, in addition to coordination between unions, authorities and citizens to restore security and formality to the sector.
