While the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform was busy raking Toyota’s chief executives over the coals in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Federal agents in Detroit were going all Untouchables-like at the offices of three auto parts suppliers, including one company owned in part by Toyota.

Warrants were executed at the offices of Yazaki North America, Denso International and Tokai Rika.

A rep for the anti-trust division of the U.S. Justice Department, said the investigation involved “the possibility of an anti-competitive cartel” by various suppliers of electronics for vehicles.

And it appears as if this isn’t merely a domestic issue. “We are coordinating with the European Commission and other foreign competition authorities,” said the Justice Dept. rep.

Denso confirmed the FBI visit and that it was in connection with an antitrust investigation. However, they did note that the investigation was not related to the Toyota recall or this week’s Congressional hearings on the recall.

FBI searches 3 local auto suppliers [The Detroit News]

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