From mid-December to March, police examinations of around 400 shipping containers at the Port of Montreal revealed nearly 600 stolen vehicles, predominantly originating from the Toronto area. The port’s status as Canada’s second-largest, paired with its convenient connections to rail and road networks, makes it a preferred point for exporting stolen vehicles.
Bryan Gast, vice-president of investigative services at Équité Association, highlights the port’s “very large” capacity and strategic location as major factors in its exploitation by criminals. Last year, the port handled about 1.7 million containers, with stolen vehicles cleverly hidden among legitimate cargo. The operation, dubbed Project Vector, managed by the Ontario Provincial Police, successfully recovered 598 stolen vehicles valued at approximately $34.5 million.
Port authorities and police are striving to curb this trend, but challenges persist due to jurisdictional limits, a shortage of personnel, and the involvement of organized crime. Despite the port’s collaborative efforts with law enforcement, restrictions remain in place that allow port officials to open containers only under critical circumstances, further complicating the situation.
Peel Region’s mayor, Patrick Brown, criticizes the current security measures, suggesting that increased scanning and less restrictive access for police could significantly deter the export of stolen vehicles. Meanwhile, the Canada Border Services Agency admits to the logistical impracticality of scanning all outgoing containers, emphasizing the necessity of intercepting stolen goods before they arrive at the port.
This ongoing issue highlights the need for enhanced security measures and international cooperation to address the challenges posed by organized crime and jurisdictional limitations at major ports like Montreal.