Canadian authorities have dismantled a large-scale transnational vehicle theft and export syndicate following a two-year investigation that led to the recovery of 306 stolen vehicles valued at approximately 25 million Canadian dollars. Many of the vehicles were allegedly destined for markets in West Africa and the Middle East.
The investigation, dubbed Project CHICKADEE, was spearheaded by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) through its Provincial Auto Theft and Towing (PATT) Team, working alongside the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and multiple domestic law enforcement partners.
Police say the probe uncovered a sophisticated criminal network extending far beyond street-level car theft. The operation allegedly involved freight forwarding companies, truck drivers, falsified shipping records, altered vehicle identification numbers (VINs), and complex international export routes.
From Routine Recovery to Global Crime Network
Project CHICKADEE began in August 2023 after investigators recovered four stolen vehicles in the Greater Toronto Area. What initially appeared to be a routine recovery soon revealed evidence of a much larger export-focused theft operation.
Investigators determined that stolen vehicles were being re-identified using altered VINs, paired with fraudulent documentation, and loaded into shipping containers for overseas export through major Canadian ports. Intelligence later linked the operation to transnational organized crime groups, identifying Ontario as a key supply hub in the global vehicle theft trade.
Port Interceptions and National Coordination
As the investigation expanded, OPP officers, the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, and CBSA intelligence teams began intercepting shipping containers at ports across Montréal, Vancouver, and Halifax.
Authorities emphasized that once stolen vehicles leave Canada, recovery becomes extremely difficult, making early interception at ports critical.
The operation received support from numerous agencies, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Halton Regional Police, and the Équité Association, underscoring the scale and complexity of the criminal enterprise.
Major Enforcement Actions
The first major enforcement phase occurred on October 16, 2025, when police executed search warrants in Toronto, Vaughan, Woodbridge, and Etobicoke. Seized items included cash, a re-VINed vehicle, electronic key programming devices, and license plates. One suspect was arrested at the scene, while two others initially fled but were later taken into custody.
A second, larger operation followed on November 27, with police searching 23 residential and industrial locations and seizing 13 additional vehicles in communities including Brampton, Scarborough, Waterloo, Milton, and Saint-Eustache, Québec. Tactical units, emergency response teams, canine units, and intelligence officers were deployed during the coordinated raids.
Seizures and Charges
By the conclusion of Project CHICKADEE, authorities reported the seizure of:
306 stolen vehicles
Three firearms
Hundreds of license plates, keys, and key fobs
Fraudulent shipping and export documents
Forklifts and tractor-trailer cabs used in logistics
Over $190,000 CAD and $32,000 USD in cash
Mobile phones, computers, hard drives, and financial records
In total, 20 individuals were arrested and charged with 134 offences under the Criminal Code, Customs Act, and Cannabis Act.
Among those charged is Bismark Owusu-Ansah, a 64-year-old Ghanaian national residing in Brampton, Ontario. He faces five charges, including conspiracy to traffic stolen property, exporting property obtained through crime, and possession of stolen property exceeding $5,000. Authorities stress that all accused persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Financial Tracking and Asset Seizures
Police credited financial intelligence from FINTRAC, Canada’s financial transactions watchdog, with playing a key role in tracing criminal proceeds. The OPP’s Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit has also moved to seize assets believed to be connected to the network.
OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique described auto theft as a crime with far-reaching impacts.
“Auto theft is not a victimless crime. It fuels organized crime, violence, and insecurity in communities,” he said.
Senior officer Bryan Gast added that vehicle theft costs Canada more than $1 billion annually, with proceeds often reinvested into illegal firearms, drugs, and other criminal activities.
Authorities say Project CHICKADEE marks a strategic shift toward dismantling the full criminal supply chain — from theft and falsified documentation to shipping and international export — sending a clear message that Canada will no longer serve as a source market for global vehicle theft networks.
