MISSISSAUGA — Police say vehicles stolen across southern Ontario were shipped overseas for illegal sale as part of an alleged organized crime operation, with details of a major investigation set to be released Wednesday morning.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) are scheduled to announce the results of what authorities describe as a “major auto theft investigation” at a news conference shortly after 10 a.m. at the International Centre, near Toronto Pearson Airport.
In a media advisory issued Tuesday, the OPP said the complex and lengthy investigation focused on the activities of an alleged criminal organization believed to be facilitating the movement of stolen vehicles from Canada to overseas destinations.
Investigators said auto theft continues to fuel organized crime networks and poses a significant threat to community safety, affecting families, businesses, and neighbourhoods across Ontario.
OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique is expected to attend the media briefing alongside other senior law enforcement officials.
Police agencies have reported that auto theft has been increasing in Mississauga, Brampton, the Greater Toronto Area, and across Canada in recent years. In response to the growing problem, Peel Regional Police hosted two international summits in Mississauga last year aimed at addressing what officials described as a serious and escalating public safety issue.
Authorities say organized theft rings typically target SUVs and luxury vehicles, often stealing them from residential driveways overnight. Vehicles are also taken from parking lots, including those at Toronto Pearson Airport and shopping malls, or obtained through more serious crimes such as carjackings and home invasions.
Investigators have said many stolen vehicles are quickly transported to Montreal, where they are shipped overseas for illegal sale, including to destinations in the Middle East and Africa.
Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah previously warned that coordinated efforts among law enforcement agencies are necessary to curb the rapidly growing problem.
“Organized auto theft has become an epidemic across many jurisdictions in Ontario and has escalated into a complex national issue impacting the safety and well-being of our communities,” Duraiappah said at a 2024 anti-auto theft summit.