11 people charged after York Regional Police recover 52 stolen vehicles worth $3.2M

Project Mamba began in October, resulting in 96 charges being laid.

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 23, 2024

Eleven people face 96 charges after York Regional Police (YRP) recovered 52 stolen vehicles worth more than $3.2 million as part of an investigation dubbed Project Mamba.

Police allege the investigation, which began in October, uncovered a group using residential areas to store vehicles that had recently been stolen in York Region and other parts of southwestern Ontario.

"The prolific crime group was targeting high-end vehicles and trafficking them with planned destinations as far away as Azerbaijan and Georgia," YRP alleged in a news release Monday (Jan. 22).

Six search warrants were executed across Ontario, including Vaughan, Toronto, London, Cambridge and Bradford, in December and January, resulting in the recovery of 52 stolen vehicles.

Newmarket and Bradford residents are among 11 people, ages 20 to 64, who face a total of 96 charges, including trafficking in property obtained by crime.

The investigation, conducted by YRP's auto cargo theft unit with help from Canada Border Services Agency and Equite Association, is ongoing.

Police are asking anyone with information to call the auto cargo theft unit at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 6651 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).