More than 300 charges have been laid by Peel Regional Police after recovering 369 vehicles worth $33.2 million as part of a months-long auto theft investigation.
The seven-month long investigation, dubbed Project Odyssey, resulted in 16 arrests, the issue of 10 arrest warrants, and 322 charges being laid after the recovery of 255 vehicles in Peel Region and 114 vehicles at the Port of Montreal, Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said during a May 27 news conference.
“This is a highly orchestrated criminal operation,” Chief Duraiappah said. “This has been Peel Regional Police’s most significant auto theft investigation to date.”
Peel officers launched an investigation into an organized crime group in October 2023 after receiving a tip about stolen vehicles at a trucking yard in Brampton, Ont., said commercial auto bureau Detective Greg O’Connor.
The subsequent investigation uncovered a link between a Brampton trucking company and the shipment of stolen vehicles to the Port of Montreal, Det. O’Connor said. The family-run company is alleged to have facilitated and loaded the motor vehicles for transport to Montreal.
Stolen vehicles were taken to “intermodal hubs” throughout the GTA before being transported along the 401 corridor to the Port of Montreal, the detective said.
“The vehicles were intended to be exported to the ports in the United Arab Emirates and the Port of Oman,” he said. “Based on the evidence, we believe the trucking company owners, workers, and operators were fully aware and complicit in the shipping of these stolen vehicles.”
Police also identified several suspects believed to be involved in the theft and transport of stolen vehicles to the yard from within the GTA, police said, adding that at least some of the vehicles were stolen during violent carjackings.
Upon arriving at the Port of Montreal, investigators found 37 containers full of stolen vehicles with the help of the Port Authority and Canada Border Services Agency. Three transport trucks and two Bobcats were recovered in addition to the 114 stolen vehicles.
Brampton residents Beerpal Singh, 29; Harmeet Singh, 34; Valbir Singh, 49; Gurpreet Dhillon, 41; and Jagmohan Singh, 57, face several charges in connection with the investigation.
Also charged are Toronto residents Albijon Nura, 20; Yoel Alem, 20; Ethan Brown, 19; Florent Bllacaku, 23; Tahmid Kazi, 21; Sarugan Raja, 20; Abhinash Shanmuganathan, 21; and two youths aged 16 and 17.
Quebec residents Clawens St. Fleurant, 21; Valid Mustamandi, 24; Benjy Blain, 31; Terrance Bellerive Toussaint, 30; Xavier Audate, 27; Amine Chakkir, 35; Yanis Adrar, 18; and Nadir Bennouna, 24 are facing charges as are Mississauga residents Mohammad Siddiqui, 40 and Asad Mayo, 28, Bolton resident Guljinder Singh, 29, and Asiful Haque, 26, of Scarborough.
Several of those charged or being sought on warrants have previously been arrested for auto theft, police said. All of those taken into custody have since been released.
