Service Ontario employees arrested in massive auto-theft ring bust

Ontario Provincial Police have revealed details of a large auto-theft ring bust that spanned two provinces and involved Service Ontario employees.

The joint interprovincial investigation lasted 22 months and resulted in the arrest of 28 people in both Ontario and Saskatchewan. Nearly 250 charges were laid and the arrests include some Service Ontario employees who were involved in the “fraudulent modification” and sale of stolen vehicles.

“To date, the investigation has recovered 214 vehicles valued at $12 million,” says OPP Deputy Commissioner Chuck Cox, speaking on Thursday.

The investigation, dubbed Project MYRA, began in September 2020 after police discovered a network of three criminal organizations who were involved in modifying stolen vehicles’ identification numbers (VINs). These vehicles were then sold through private sales.

“By modifying the VINs of these vehicles, these criminal organizations were able to fraudulently register these vehicles and take advantage of consumers who may have unknowingly purchased a stolen vehicle,” Cox says.

Police say most of the illegal sales occurred in Ontario, but several stolen vehicles from Saskatchewan were modified for re-sale.

“A wide range of stolen vehicle makes and models have been recovered, including high-end vehicles,” reads an OPP release, noting that Honda/Acura makes account for 37 per cent of the vehicles recovered.

Through the execution of 27 search warrants, investigators were also able to recover a large amount of weapons, drugs, and cash, including:

• Six firearms
• 230 grams suspected fentanyl
• 1,840 grams suspected cocaine
• 77 kilograms cannabis
• 150 grams suspected cannabis resin
• 10 grams suspected psilocybin
• $8,400 US currency
• $160,000 CAD currency
• Two money counters
• Two laser marking machines

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Police have charged 26 suspects from Ontario, and two from Saskatchewan, with 242 offences. The majority of those charged are GTA residents.

Investigators say the three crime organizations involved are based in the GTA — one in Peel Region, one in Durham Region and Toronto, and a third in York Region.

The joint investigation included members of the Durham Regional Police Service, Halton Regional Police Service, Peel Regional Police, Saskatoon Police Service, and York Regional Police.

“Project MYRA has been an extensive operation, and police continue to identify and locate re-vinned vehicles associated to these criminal organizations,” says the OPP. “The investigation is ongoing.”

The charged suspects are scheduled to appear in court at various dates through July and August.

Police urge caution when purchasing vehicle through private sale

The OPP are urging the public to exercise caution when purchasing a used vehicle through a private sale.

“If any part of the transaction or anything leading up to the transaction seems suspicious, do not provide funds and contact law enforcement,” says Cox.

Police say prospective buyers should attempt to get as much information as they possibly can on the vehicle and the seller before transferring any funds.

The OPP advise the following eight things should be considered before making a used vehicle purchase:

• Be cautious when purchasing a vehicle online or from an unlicensed used vehicle dealer
• Request or purchase a Used Vehicle Information Package from Service Ontario
• Be aware of vehicles that may have a cloned VIN. Compare them – typically found on the inside driver’s door and bottom-left corner of windshield
• Meet the seller at their home and bring someone with you
• Enter the vehicle’s VIN into the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC), an online resource to verify if a vehicle has been stolen
• Report any suspicious activity to the police of jurisdiction
• Purchase a CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report
• Complete an online search of vehicle’s VIN to reveal whether the vehicle is also for sale in another region