Canada police recover $10 million in stolen vehicles from car theft ring

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada - Canadian police said Tuesday a car-theft ring with ties to the Middle East has been busted with CAN$10 million ($7.3 million) in high-end vehicles recovered.

Police in the Peel Region, west of Toronto, said 78 vehicles were recovered in an operation called, Project R & R. In the first two months of 2023, more than 500 vehicles have been located.

“To say that it is an epidemic, nationally and in Ontario, is an understatement,” Nishan Duraiappah, Chief of Peel Regional Police, said at a news conference. “Canada is becoming known as a source country for exported stolen autos.”

Once stolen, many of the luxury vehicles are transported to Montreal where they are shipped overseas, mainly to the United Arab Emirates for distribution, said police. Last month, 64 vehicles worth an estimated CAN$3.5 million were recovered in Malta.

The 78 vehicles were recovered at the Port of Montreal and other locations including rail yards and were ready for transport, said officials.

Four men were arrested in Project R & R bust but there are other rings engaged in auto thefts in the Toronto region.

“These vehicles are in such high demand in other countries,” Detective Trevor Oldham, head of Project R & R, said at the news conference. “As long as it is so lucrative to do it, we believe it will still continue.”

The suspects range in age from 29 - 48 and face various charges including auto theft and possession of property obtained by crime.