Authorities described the network as a criminal organisation involved in theft, re-VINning (altering vehicle identification numbers), fraud, money laundering, and violations under the Customs Act.
In a major crackdown on organised automobile theft, the Canadian authorities have dismantled a sophisticated network involved in stealing and exporting luxury vehicles overseas, and recovered 306 stolen cars, worth approximately 25 million Canadian dollars (around Rs 150 crore). Twenty people were arrested in this connection, including eight who bear names of apparent Indian-origin.
The eight accused have been identified as Amandeep Singh, 40, from Brampton (5 charges); Sukhwinder Kaloya, 53, Bolton (7 charges); Raghbir Walia, 57, Brampton (4 charges); Sandeep Kumar, 33, Brampton (4 charges); Jiggerdeep Singh, 26, Brampton (4 charges); Gurbaj Singh, 26, Brampton (4 charges); Samina Kamran (45, Milton, 5 charges); and Reena Damr, 21, Stouffville (4 charges).
The remaining accused include Muhammad Mirza, 52, from Milton (20 charges), Muhammad Malik, 29, Oshawa (19 charges), and others.
The operation, codenamed Project Chickadee, began in August 2023 after the recovery of four stolen vehicles in the Greater Toronto Area, which led investigators to freight-forwarding companies allegedly using fake documents to ship high-end SUVs and luxury cars to markets in the Middle East and West Africa. The operation was led by the Ontario Provincial Police in collaboration with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and other agencies.
Raids conducted in October and November 2025 across multiple locations in Ontario and Quebec resulted in seizures of cash, firearms, shipping documents, key programming devices, and forklifts, besides the vehicles intercepted at ports in Montreal, Halifax, and Vancouver.
Ontario Provincial Police officers emphasised the transnational nature of the crime, with stolen vehicles fetching higher prices abroad. No official details on the nationality or immigration status of the accused have been released.
The bust comes amid a surge in auto thefts in Canada, particularly in Ontario, where organised rings have exploited export channels. Similar operations in the past have also seen involvement of individuals from the South Asian community, raising concerns about vulnerabilities in certain diaspora networks.
Investigations are ongoing, with a probe underway into the proceeds of crime.
