A major Ontario-led investigation has dismantled an auto theft network by targeting not just the thieves, but the freight forwarding businesses and drivers allegedly used to move stolen vehicles out of Canada, police and border officials said.
The Ontario Provincial Police-led Provincial Auto Theft and Towing (PATT) Team and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said Project CHICKADEE recovered 306 stolen vehicles worth about $25 million, many allegedly destined for overseas markets including the Middle East and West Africa.
“Project CHICKADEE is an excellent example of collaboration with different levels of law enforcement, both provincial and federal, uniting with a common goal of identifying, disrupting and prosecuting criminal networks who pose a very real threat to our communities,” said Lisa Janes, CBSA regional director general for the Greater Toronto Area, in a statement.
The investigation began in August 2023 after four stolen vehicles were recovered in the Greater Toronto Area. Investigators said evidence pointed to the use of registered freight forwarding businesses and fraudulent documentation to ship stolen vehicles abroad. Containers were inspected at multiple ports, including Montreal, Vancouver and Halifax, in an effort to disrupt exports.
Police said 20 people have been arrested and charged with 134 offences under the Criminal Code, the Customs Act and the Cannabis Act. Among the items seized were three firearms, cash totalling more than $190,000 CAD and $32,000 USD, electronic devices, shipping documentation, key programming equipment, and assorted vehicle keys.
This case reinforces what many dealers are seeing firsthand: theft is no longer just a local crime. Disrupting export pipelines may ease pressure on high-demand inventory, but it also increases scrutiny around vehicle documentation, key programming tools, and transport links.
