Ontario police have dismantled an organized auto theft ring operating in Peel Region, recovering nine stolen vehicles valued at more than $1.2 million as part of an investigation dubbed Project Memphis.
Investigators from Peel Regional Police 11 Division Criminal Investigations Bureau and the Commercial Auto Crime Bureau, in collaboration with Équité Association, managed to tackle the issue which resulted in the arrest of 12 people and prevented over $350,000 in insurance fraud. Eighty-one charges have been laid.
“Project Memphis was a complex and multi-faceted investigation that required incredible investigative efforts,” said Chief Nishan Duraiappah in a statement. “The success of this investigation was a testament to effective collaboration and the shared goal of disrupting criminality of all kinds.”
The project launched in March 2023, when Peel Regional Police were provided with information relating to a possible re-vinned vehicle. “Investigators determined some of the stolen vehicles were being re-vinned, fraudulently re-registered and sold in Mississauga,” according a Peel Regional Police news release.
They added that, in certain cases, some of the accused people attempted to defraud several financial and insurance institutions.
The nine stolen vehicles that were recovered as a result of the project are Range Rover Sports (2 vehicles), Ram 1500s (2 vehicles), one Bentley Bentayga, one BMW M5, one BMW X5, a Porsche Panamera, and a Jeep Wrangler.
Peel Regional Police said the successful outcome of Project Memphis is a result of a joint effort between their Commercial Auto Crime Unit, CBSA Intelligence, the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC), Equité Association, and the Durham Regional Police and Woodstock Police.
