As part of a joint initiative with INTERPOL, the federal government announced up to $3.5 million over three years to combat transnational organized vehicle crime through Project Drive Out.
The project aims to increase information sharing between law enforcement agencies, member states, and the private industry — as well as strengthen data analysis. The goal is to identify stolen vehicles and spare parts around the world and return them to Canada.
“Our INTERPOL-Ottawa office includes a dedicated team that works collaboratively with member countries around the world, leveraging INTERPOL’s Stolen Motor Vehicle Database, as well as delivering INTERPOL capacity-building training to fight transnational vehicle crime,” said Michael Duheme, Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in a statement.
At the moment, auto theft claims are down 19 per cent, but most stolen vehicles exported from Canada continue to be sent to Africa and the Middle East. INTERPOL’s Stolen Motor Vehicle database, which has more than 12 million records, will be enhanced as part of Project Drive Out.
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada said The RCMP continues to process international notifications and requests received through INTERPOL’s database. They received 2,666 alerts about Canadian vehicles and 491 international collaboration requests between February and October 2024.
“Our INTERPOL-Ottawa office includes a dedicated team that works collaboratively with member countries around the world, leveraging INTERPOL’s Stolen Motor Vehicle Database, as well as delivering INTERPOL capacity-building training to fight transnational vehicle crime,” said Michael Duheme, Commissioner of the RCMP, in a statement.
The announcement of the joint initiative was originally delivered by Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, on November 25.
