In a significant international crackdown, Canadian law enforcement has dismantled a sophisticated criminal network responsible for stealing and exporting high-end vehicles, leading to the recovery of 306 stolen cars valued at a staggering 25 million Canadian dollars (approximately Rs 150 crore). The operation resulted in the arrest of twenty individuals, including eight with names indicating Indian origin.
The Sting: Operation Project Chickadee Unfolds
The investigation, codenamed Project Chickadee, was launched in August 2023 after authorities recovered four stolen vehicles in the Greater Toronto Area. This discovery led detectives to freight-forwarding companies that were allegedly using forged documents to ship luxury SUVs and cars to overseas markets, primarily in the Middle East and West Africa.
The multi-agency operation was spearheaded by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in collaboration with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Raids conducted across Ontario and Quebec in October and November 2025 yielded not only the intercepted vehicles at ports in Montreal, Halifax, and Vancouver but also substantial evidence. Police seized cash, firearms, shipping records, key programming devices, and even forklifts.
Key Accused and Charges
Authorities have described the syndicate as a full-fledged criminal organization involved in vehicle theft, re-VINning (altering vehicle identification numbers), fraud, money laundering, and breaches of the Customs Act. Among the twenty arrested, the eight individuals identified with names of apparent Indian-origin are:
- Amandeep Singh, 40, from Brampton (facing 5 charges)
- Sukhwinder Kaloya, 53, from Bolton (7 charges)
- Raghbir Walia, 57, from Brampton (4 charges)
- Sandeep Kumar, 33, from Brampton (4 charges)
- Jiggerdeep Singh, 26, from Brampton (4 charges)
- Gurbaj Singh, 26, from Brampton (4 charges)
- Samina Kamran, 45, from Milton (5 charges)
- Reena Damr, 21, from Stouffville (4 charges)
Other prominent accused include Muhammad Mirza (52, Milton) facing 20 charges and Muhammad Malik (29, Oshawa) facing 19 charges.
Transnational Crime and Ongoing Concerns
OPP officials highlighted the transnational nature of the crime, noting that stolen vehicles command significantly higher prices in foreign markets. This bust occurs against a backdrop of a severe surge in auto thefts across Canada, especially in Ontario, where organized rings have systematically exploited export channels.
While no official details regarding the nationality or immigration status of the accused have been released, past similar operations have also seen involvement from within the South Asian community. This pattern raises ongoing concerns about specific vulnerabilities in certain diaspora networks being targeted or exploited by criminal elements.
The investigation remains active, with a dedicated probe into the proceeds of crime now underway to unravel the full financial extent of the network's operations.
