Freight forwarding companies and truck drivers were involved in a major auto theft criminal organization dismantled by police, as investigators targeted not only stolen vehicles but also their illegal export from Canada to overseas markets.
As part of the investigation, police seized two tractor-trailer cabs and other heavy equipment believed to have been used to facilitate the movement and export of stolen vehicles.
The Ontario Provincial Police-led Provincial Auto Theft and Towing (PATT) Team and the Canada Border Services Agency announced Dec. 17 the dismantling of the criminal organization as part of Project Chickadee, an investigation focused on disrupting the shipment of stolen vehicles to destinations including the Middle East and West Africa.
In total, 306 stolen vehicles valued at approximately $25 million were recovered during the joint-forces investigation. Police also seized three firearms, various provincial license plates, an onboard diagnostic reader, numerous key fobs and vehicle keys, vehicle shipping documentation, and electronic devices including cell phones, laptops and hard drives. More than $190,000 in Canadian currency and more than $32,000 in U.S. currency were also seized, along with two forklifts.
Investigators allege the criminal organization included owners and operators of several registered freight forwarding businesses, as well as individuals involved in vehicle thefts across Ontario. Police said the network operated internationally and had links to transnational organized crime groups.
Project Chickadee began in August 2023 after the OPP-led PATT Team recovered four stolen vehicles in the Greater Toronto Area. Evidence pointed to the involvement of freight forwarding companies and drivers who allegedly used registered businesses and fraudulent shipping documentation to export stolen vehicles overseas.
The investigation was carried out jointly by the OPP PATT Team, the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau and the CBSA Intelligence and Investigations Operations Division. Shipping containers were inspected while in transit and at the ports of Montreal, Vancouver and Halifax to stop the illegal export of stolen vehicles.
Équité Association, the RCMP and Halton Regional Police Service assisted throughout the investigation.
On Oct. 16, 2025, police executed four search warrants in Toronto, Vaughan, Ont., Woodbridge, Ont. and Etobicoke, Ont. Officers seized $30,000 in Canadian currency, one re-VINed vehicle, two other vehicles believed to be offense-related property, key programmers and various Ontario license plates. One individual was arrested and charged with four auto theft-related Criminal Code offences, while two others fled from police and were later apprehended.
Further search warrants were executed on Nov. 27, 2025, at 23 residential and industrial locations in Ontario and 13 vehicles across the Greater Toronto Area and surrounding areas, including Brampton, Scarborough, Waterloo, Bolton, Oshawa, Oakville, Mississauga, Innisfil, Toronto and Milton, as well as one location in Saint-Eustache, Que.
20 individuals arrested and charged
Twenty individuals have been arrested and charged with 134 offences under the Criminal Code, the Customs Act and the Cannabis Act.
FINTRAC provided financial intelligence disclosures that police said were essential to the success of the investigation. The OPP Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit is also involved in investigating proceeds of crime and assisting with the seizure of offence-related property.
Those charged include:
- Muhammad Mirza, 52, of Milton, who faces 20 charges;
- Muhammad Malik, 29, of Oshawa, charged with 19 offenses;
- Alaelddein Alhaj-Salem, 28, of Scarborough, 10 offenses;
- Barrington Robinson, 38, of Mississauga, seven offenses;
- Amandeep Singh, 40, of Brampton, five offenses;
- Sultan Abu-Shabab, 23, of Oshawa, five offenses;
- Yahya Khan, 23, of Mississauga, seven offenses;
- Zia Qazi, 37, of Oakville, four offenses;
- Usman Ishfaq, 20, of North York, five offenses;
- Sukhwinder Kaloya, 53, of Bolton, seven offenses;
- Raghbir Walia, 57, of Brampton, four offenses;
- Samina Kamran, 45, of Milton, five offenses;
- Sandeep Kumar, 33, of Brampton, four offenses;
- Jiggerdeep Singh, 26, of Brampton, four offenses;
- Reena Damra, 21, of Stouffville, four offenses;
- Wadohi Fadul, 25, of Scarborough, six offenses;
- Bismark Owusu-Ansah, 64, of Brampton, five offenses;
- Qais Hamidi, 34, of Bradford, six offenses;
- Mario Rahim, 28, of Bradford, four offenses;
- and Gurbaj Singh, 26, of Brampton, four offenses.
The charges have not been proven in court.
