At the Port of Montreal, a collaborative effort between the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) resulted in the recovery of 598 stolen vehicles bound for export. The intercepted vehicles, valued at approximately $34.5 million, saw 75% of them traced back to thefts in Ontario.
Deputy Commissioner Marty Kearns of the OPP stated that although no arrests were made, investigations are ongoing. The joint operation, which involved searches of 390 containers at the port, engaged multiple law enforcement agencies across Quebec and Ontario, alongside insurance investigators.
Kearns emphasized the substantial blow dealt to organized crime by these seizures, noting that some of the recovered vehicles were linked to serious offenses such as carjackings and home invasions. Notably, thieves have been targeting vehicles such as pickup trucks and luxury SUVs for export to various international markets including Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and South America.
This interception highlights the ongoing efforts to combat vehicle theft and smuggling operations, safeguarding both domestic and international communities from criminal activities.