Toronto, Ontario — An extensive automotive crackdown has led to the recovery of 598 stolen vehicles from Ontario and Quebec before they could be illegally shipped overseas.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reported that the majority of the cars—483 of them—were from Ontario with a potential total value of $34.5 million. The other 115 vehicles were stolen from Quebec.
Police also commented that the stolen vehicles were supposed to be exported overseas to different markets in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South America.
The operation to recover the vehicles was Project Vector and was completed in collaboration with police forces in both provinces.
Since December 2023, 390 shipping containers have been inspected and authorities say vehicles were discovered in sea containers in Montreal, Quebec.
“As our intelligence indicated, the vast majority of recovered stolen vehicles–more than 430–were taken from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA),” OPP deputy commissioner Marty Kearns said.
“The primary vehicles targeted were newer vehicles, including high-end pickup trucks and SUVs.”
Kearns also said that “no arrests were made as a direct result of Project Vector,” but that police continue to investigate.
Police say the hundreds of recovered vehicles were connected to different kinds of vehicle crimes, including carjackings and home invasions.
This operation comes after more than 30 arrests were made last month in Ontario and Quebec concerning stolen vehicles. Last week alone, nearly 50 vehicles were recovered in Toronto by authorities.
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