40 vehicles worth $3 million stolen in car-theft ring in Halton and the GTA

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Published September 11, 2024 at 11:29 am

Last Updated September 11, 2024 at 1:11 pm

40 vehicles worth $3 million in car-theft ring busted in Halton and the GTA

Four people have been arrested and four more are being sought following a massive car theft investigation headlined by Halton police in which some 40 vehicles worth $3 million were stolen.

At a news conference held at Halton police headquarters in Oakville, it was revealed Project Ninja started in May following a vehicle being recovered in Burlington that was stolen in Hamilton.

From that spark, a three-month investigation followed that has resulted in the dismantling of a sophisticated auto theft ring that was operating in Halton and throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

“This group is believed to be responsible for the theft of at least 40 vehicles worth about $3 million,” said Deputy Chief of Police Jeff Hill.

He said car theft isn’t just a property crime anymore.

“It’s organized crime that is traumatizing people. Criminals are increasingly willing to enter homes.”

Hill said the issue will continue to grow as long as the financial rewards for criminals outweigh the risk of being caught.

“We continue to partner with the private sector to combat this issue.”

Jeff Knoll, chair of the Halton Police Services Board, expressed frustration with how this is being handled by the criminal justice system.

“We spend hundreds of millions of dollars on policing. We need to this be taken more seriously. Stronger deterrents are needed.”

Knoll also wants to see manufacturers take the issue of vehicle theft more seriously.

“Right now, you can’t open my phone because of the security. Why isn’t better anti-theft technology being incorporated into vehicles?”

Project Ninja is expected to continue as more suspects are identified.

Halton police released a video obtained by investigators of a stolen vehicle being loaded into a modified recreational vehicle to avoid detection.

Facing a myriad of theft-related charges are Amine Garti, 23, Badr-Eddine Draoui, 23, and Ramy Bitout, 23, all of Montréal.

Olivier Paquette, 35, of Saint-Jérôme, was arrested by the OPP on July 24 and is currently wanted by Halton Regional Police.

Canada-wide arrest warrants have also been issued for:

  • Youli-Wass Aidali, 22, of Le Goulet, New Brunswick
  • Yasser Hassani, 23, of Montréal
  • Faycal Kessaci, 23, of no fixed address
  • Yacine Mamache, 24, of Montréal

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