Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Police in Ontario dismantled a large-scale vehicle theft operation that was stealing automobiles and exporting them to countries in the Middle East. Authorities confirmed that 20 suspects were taken into custody, including eight individuals of Indian origin. Investigators laid a total of 134 criminal charges and confiscated 306 stolen vehicles valued at approximately 25 million dollars. The seizures were made as part of Project Chicadee, an investigation launched in August 2023. Law enforcement officials stated that the stolen vehicles were intended for destinations such as Syria, Iraq, Egypt, and Lebanon.
A highly organized crime operation
Police described the group as a complex and well-coordinated criminal network that used legitimate freight forwarding businesses and falsified paperwork to move stolen vehicles overseas. The suspects shipped primarily luxury cars and high-end SUVs through several Canadian ports, targeting markets in West Africa and the Middle East. The probe began in 2023 following a sharp increase in auto thefts across the Greater Toronto Area. According to police data, more than 30,000 vehicles were reported stolen in Ontario during 2023 alone.
Individuals charged in the case
The 20 people arrested include:
Muhammad Mirza (52), Muhammad Malik (29), Alaelddein Alhaj-Salem (28), Barrington Robinson (38), Amandeep Singh (40), Sultan Abu-Shabab (23), Yahya Khan (23), Zia Qazi (37), Usman Ishaq (20), Sukhwinder Kaloya (53), Raghbir Walia (57), Samina Kamran (45), Sandeep Kumar (33), Jiggerdeep Singh (26), Reena Damr (21), Wadohi Fadul (25), Bismark Owusu-Ansah (64), Qais Hamidi (34), Mario Rahim (28), and Gurbaj Singh (26).
Police confirmed that Amandeep Singh, Sukhwinder Kaloya, Raghbir Walia, Sandeep Kumar, Jiggerdeep Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Samina Kamran, and Reena Damr are of Indian origin. Investigators noted that while the accused worked together to carry out vehicle theft and illegal exports, they did not operate as a single unified group.
During October and November, search warrants were executed across Toronto and nearby cities, including Brampton and Mississauga, along with one location in Quebec. Searches covered dozens of homes, industrial properties, and vehicles. In addition to the stolen automobiles, police seized over 190,000 Canadian dollars in cash, three firearms, and heavy equipment such as forklifts.
