Large auto theft bust shows signs of progress
April 15, 2024
Fighting back and stopping the entrenched organized crime groups that have been stealing vehicles and operating with little fear of consequences is going to take a long and concerted effort.
A recent high profile bust that recovered 598 stolen vehicles is an encouraging sign that police forces, and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) can work well together to make a dent in the auto theft epidemic.
“We are pleased to see action and some good results,” said Huw Williams, CADA’s Director of Public Affairs. “We applaud the progress, and support the police, and are pleased to see the CBSA acting. While 600 recovered cars is great news, it’s really just a drop in the bucket when 90,000 vehicles are being stolen every year.”
In a news release by the OPP, about their operation dubbed “Project Vector,” the police force said the CBSA works regularly with the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) and Équité Association to search sea containers suspected of containing stolen vehicles — 75% of which were stolen in Ontario, and some have been linked to carjackings and home invasions.
“Project Vector has disrupted the criminal networks that take advantage of the Canadian export market to sell stolen vehicles. These vehicles were destined to be exported overseas, to markets in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South America,” said OPP Deputy Commissioner Marty Kearns, in a statement.
Police say since December 2023, Project Vector has inspected 390 shipping containers and recovered 598 vehicles: 483 from Ontario and 115 from Quebec. The recovered vehicles identified as stolen in Ontario have a potential value of approximately $34.5 million.
Williams said CADA and other auto industry groups who are part of this collective effort to fight back against crime will continue to press the federal government for more progress and faster action. “We are making sure we hold the government accountable for their commitments,” he said. “They said they were going to act, and committed to put out a national action plan, which we still haven’t seen.”
CADA has continued to meet with Liberal and Conservative MPs to ensure that they understand that much more work remains to be done. “We want to give credit where credit is due, but it will take continued, concerted and coordinated action to truly fight organized crime groups.” said Williams.
He also noted that while CADA was pleased almost 600 vehicles were recovered, there were no arrests made. “We need to make more arrests, people need to be punished and sent to jail. We won’t let up until organized crime groups are defeated.”