'Project Big Rig': 15 Indo-Canadian men arrested for running auto theft ring in Toronto
'Project Big Rig': Peel police have recovered more than $9 million in stolen vehicles and goods, leading to the arrests of 15 people accused of being part of an organised crime ring responsible for major cargo thefts across several local regions.
The joint task force operation known as Project Big Rig resulted in the recovery of 28 containers of stolen cargo worth $6.9 million, carrying an array of stolen commercial items such as snowmobiles, ATVs, and food. According to authorities, an additional 28 tractor-trailers worth $2.2 million were recovered.
With $1.8 billion in goods passing through Peel's logistics hubs every day, the area and surrounding areas are a "prime target for organized crime groups that prey on these companies by organizing the theft of tractors, trailers, and loads," according to Peel's commercial and auto crime branch's Det. Mark Haywood.
15 Indian-Canadian arrested
With $1.8 billion in goods passing through Peel's logistics hubs every day, the area and surrounding areas are a "prime target for organized crime groups that prey on these companies by organizing the theft of tractors, trailers, and loads," according to Peel's commercial and auto crime branch's Det. Mark Haywood.
The 15 accused arrested face a total of 73 charges, including possession of stolen property, trafficking in stolen goods, theft of motor vehicles, breaking, violation of probation, and failing to comply with release orders. According to police, charges were made after warrants were executed on six sites across the GTA where the items were being stored.
The arrested accused have been identified as Balkar Singh (42), Ajay (26), Manjeet Padda (40), Jagjeevan Singh (25), Amandeep Baidwan (41), Karamshand Singh (58), Jasvinder Atwal (45), Lakhvir Singh (45), Jagpal Singh (34), Upkaran Sandhu (31), Sukhvinder Singh (44), Kulvir Bains (39), Banishidar Lalsaran (39), Shobit Verma (23), and Sukhninder Dhillon (34).
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- With inputs from agencies
