72 modded cars impounded by cops in one sweep of the LA river in scene that looks straight out of a movie

The sight of dozens of 72 modded cars being being impounded by cops from the LA river looked more like a Hollywood action movie than a real police operation.

But that’s exactly what happened when Los Angeles police swooped on a huge gathering inside the LA River near Cypress Park, impounding the vehicles and issuing trespassing citations to drivers.

Authorities said the cars had gathered suspiciously in the river channel near San Fernando Road.

But attendees insisted there was a simple explanation for the meetup and it was not an illegal street takeover.

Why were 72 modded cars impounded from the LA River?

Aerial footage captured by local CBS news helicopters showed a long line of sports cars, trucks, and modified vehicles leaving the riverbed one by one as cops waited above.

According to the LAPD, the vehicles were impounded and multiple drivers were cited for trespassing after entering the Los Angeles River channel near Cypress Park.

Drivers caught up in the sweep argued they weren’t doing anything dangerous.

Speaking to local media, several attendees claimed the event was intended as a photo meetup for enthusiasts rather than a street race or takeover.

One participant said there was a trespassing sign at the location but claimed it was difficult to see, while others maintained they tried to leave once the cops arrived.

Footage from the scene showed vehicle after vehicle being forced to leave the river channel one by one, creating a dramatic image that quickly spread across social media.

The dramatic scene looked like it came from a movie

Videos of the crackdown show rows of enthusiast cars lined up inside the iconic concrete river channel, a location made famous by countless films, TV shows, and video games over the years.

While attendees argued the meetup was harmless, reports noted that driving into the river channel is prohibited, leaving many owners facing the costly prospect of recovering their vehicles from impound lots.

For many enthusiasts, what began as a simple car gathering ended with one of the largest single-day impound operations seen in the area in recent memory.