Car buyers accused by the U.S. government of violating a sale-in-the-United-States-only rule have lost their argument against the seizure for forfeiture of dozens of cars and money used to fund the operation.

Two Memphis, Tenn.­-based companies accused of using straw buyers to circumvent car export restrictions as they work to win back their seized property argued before Southern District Judge Katherine Polk Failla that the government failed to establish a violation of customs laws.