More than 64 vehicles valued at $3.5 million have been recovered in the Republic of Malta in southern Europe and returned to Canada, according to York Regional Police.
Working in partnership with the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA), the Malta Port Authority and Customs and Equité Association, investigators identified the location of the stolen vehicles, which were inside shipping containers, ready to be sold illegally.
Project Majestic began in early 2021, with members of YRP's auto cargo theft unit working in collaboration with Toronto Police Auto Theft Suppression Project, the Peel Regional Police commercial auto crime unit and Peel Regional Police criminal investigations bureaus.
Investigators identified a criminal syndicate responsible for stealing high-end vehicles, including Lexus, Toyota and Honda sport utility vehicles, from residential driveways across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
The suspects entered the vehicles and reprogrammed ignition computers, allowing them to be driven away utilizing a new key. The vehicles were driven directly to the Port of Montreal or loaded into shipping containers in Toronto and transported to Montreal by rail, police said. The containers were then loaded onto ships and vehicles delivered to buyers in Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
On Tuesday, March 16, 2021, following a two-month investigation, investigators executed eight search warrants across the GTA and in Brossard, Quebec. Between March 2021 and December 2022, more than 70 stolen vehicles were seized, with a value of more than $4.5 million, in addition to the recently recovered vehicles in Malta, bringing the total number of recovered vehicles to more than 130, valued at $8 million.
Eighteen people have been charged with more than 170 offences, including conspiracy, trafficking of property obtained by crime and theft of a motor vehicle.
A video of the recovered vehicles can be found here: https://youtu.be/5AomddVXCAY
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-866-876-5423, ext.6651, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.
