$10m in stolen cars recovered in latest GTA bust - Project Majestic revisted

Peel cops recovered 78 stolen vehicles after an investigation into an auto theft ring this spring. 64 returned to Canada from Malta. Stolen vehicles were recovered at various locations and ports, including Brampton, Montreal, Germany, and Spain. Many of the stolen vehicles were on their way to buyers in the United Arab Emirates. Theives were pros, with vehicles stolen from driveways and their GPS units removed in less than 10 minutes. Four perps are facing 34 charges. Stealing cars is a low risk, high reward, growth industry. In the first two months of 2023 Peel cops alone recovered over 500 stolen autos. In all of 2022, they recovered 2,400 stolen vehicles.

Imad Assi, Altayab Brafcany Re’Fat Faris Mustafa Khatabeh, Michael Zureiqat.

Cops seized vehicles with a value of more than $4.5m and charged 18 following their two-month investigation into a vehicle theft ring operating in the GTA. Those busted are charged with more than 170 offences combined, including conspiracy, trafficking of property obtained by crime and theft of a motor vehicle.

The ring focused on overnight thefts of Lexus, Toyota and Honda sport utility vehicles from residential driveways. Theives enter the vehicle and reprogram the ignition computer, allowing it to be driven away using a new key fob. The vehicles were driven to the Port of Montreal or loaded into a sea container in Toronto and transported to Montreal by rail. The containers were then loaded onto ships and sent overseas, usually the UAE. See ----->Car theft in GTA out of control - gone in 90 seconds