Four months after seizing six stolen vehicles from a shipping container, another eight stolen vehicles were recovered when cops searched various locations in Toronto on Friday.
And six people now face a slew of charges.
Toronto Police say the Holdup Squad launched an investigation into the theft and trafficking of motor vehicles in August 2024.
That probe resulted in a shipping container being intercepted and examined by the Canada Border Services Agency on Sept. 13, 2024.
“Members of the Hold Up Squad liaised with CBSA officers and determined that the six vehicles located inside the container were stolen from Toronto, York Region, Peel Region, Halton Region,” Holdup Unit Insp. Joe Matys said in a statement Wednesday.
He said investigators – with help from the Public Safety Response Team and 32, 41 and 42 Division Major Crime Units – executed six search warrants on Friday.
During the searches, officers allegedly recovered a replica handgun, ammunition, a GPS jammer and other items of evidentiary value.
“Officers also recovered eight vehicles that had been stolen in Toronto, Halton, Durham and Ottawa,” Matys said.
He said five suspects were also taken into custody during the searches.
However, six people in total face dozens of charges combined stemming from the recovery of the 14 stolen vehicles.
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Khalad Alazrak, 57, of Toronto, is charged with seven counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking, two counts of possession of a device for the purpose of committing theft, and three counts of tampering with a Vehicle Identification Number.
Wajdi Shamsa, 40, of Toronto, is charged with six counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of a device for the purpose of committing theft.
Belal Khaled Alazrak, 31, of Ajax, is charged with seven counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking, two counts of possession of a device for the purpose of committing theft, and three counts of tampering with a Vehicle Identification Number.
Mohammad Najjar, 28, of Toronto, is charged with six counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of a device for the purpose of committing theft.
Ahmad Khaled Ahmad Shawer, 27, of Toronto, is charged with seven counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking, two counts of possession of a device for the purpose of committing theft, and three counts of tampering with a Vehicle Identification Number.
Metib Ali Awwad Elfawair, 20, of Toronto, is charged six counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of a device for the purpose of committing theft.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call the Holdup Unit at 416-808-7350 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).