Nearly $4-million worth of stolen vehicles were recovered and more than 100 charges have been laid after an alleged car theft ring operating around Pearson Airport and run out of Quebec was busted.
Peel Regional Police said the joint investigation, called Project Tallahassee, ran from August to November.
Cops say the individuals charged are alleged to be responsible for more than 100 stolen vehicles in and around the airport.
Authorities say in July, the Airport Division Criminal Investigation Bureau identified crime patterns that indicated a auto theft ring was targeting newer model Lexus SUVs, Toyota Tundras, Sequoias, Highlanders, and Ram trucks in the area.
Investigators began to identify suspects and their specific methods and tactics including the routes they were using into and out of the airport area.
Six suspects from Quebec were arrested, arrest warrants for five other suspects were issued, and several residential search warrants were executed in Toronto, yielding computer programmers, master keys, and signal-jamming devices.
On Aug. 20, Jean Junior Goureille, 23, of Montreal-Nord, Que., was arrested and charged by Halton Regional Police with two auto theft-related offences.
On Sept. 10, Ala Zadi, 27, of Pont-Rouge, Que., was arrested and charged with 18 auto theft-related offences. He’s currently being held in a Toronto-area detention centre and a warrant is being prepared to charge him with 18 more auto theft offences.
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Also on Sept. 10, Riccardo Charles, 35, of Montreal was arrested during the execution of a residential warrant, turned over to Toronto Police, and Serkan Dikici Montimarquette, 22, of Montreal, was arrested and charged with five counts of auto theft related offences. An outstanding warrant for his arrest exists for failing to appear for an October court date.
On Oct. 30, Marie Mallous, 28, of Laval, Que., was arrested and charged with eight auto theft-related offences and Abdullah Farooq, 22, of Laval, Que., was arrested and charged by Toronto Police.
Meanwhile, arrest warrants have been sought for Marie-Sandy Desir, 30, of Montreal, for six auto theft related offences; Shainna Faustin, 31, of Montreal, for six auto theft-related offences; Steven Trottier, 22, of Laval, Que, for eight auto theft-related offences; Kyle Cain, 21 of Montreal, for 12 auto theft-related offences; Jamal Chery, 21, from Laval, Que., for 12 auto theft-related offences.
Investigators encourage these individuals to speak to a lawyer and turn themselves in to police.
“Peel Police continues to lead the field in arrests, just like in this investigation, which effectively shut down a proliferate auto theft ring,” Deputy Chief Marc Andrews said in a statement.
“This operation is a testament to the power of collaboration, data-driven investigations, and a shared commitment to protecting the public.”
Anyone with any information can contact investigators at Airport Division Criminal Investigation Bureau at 905-453-2121 extension 3133. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at peelcrimestoppers.ca.