York Regional Police investigators, working with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Équité Association, have recovered 25 stolen vehicles with a value of $2.2 million and charged six people with multiple offences.
Auto cargo theft unit investigators became aware of a parking lot in Mississauga where multiple stolen vehicles were parked last month, according to a YRP news release. Through investigation, suspects were identified and other locations were discovered where stolen vehicles were being taken and stored.
On Dec. 14, a search warrant was executed at a warehouse in Mississauga and stolen vehicles were found inside shipping containers. The vehicles had been reported stolen from all across the Greater Toronto Area. Police also seized a number of stolen licence plates, master car keys and a key re-programming device. A total of 25 stolen vehicles were recovered worth an estimated value of $2.2 million, police said.
Five suspects were arrested during the search warrant execution and were charged. On Dec. 22, a sixth suspect identified during the investigation, Alex Kabia, was taken into custody by CBSA officers at Toronto Pearson International Airport on the strength of an arrest warrant. He was turned over to York Regional Police and charged.
CHARGED:
- Samuel Owusu-Hammond, 31, of Toronto
- Michael Arthur Clark, 42, of Oakville
- Kiryl Andrushkevich, 31, of Toronto
- Laye Mamadee Kromah, 25, of Hamilton
- Ala’a Ghazal, 25, of Mississauga
- Alex Kabia, 52, of Toronto
CHARGES INCLUDE:
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
- Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
- Possession of Automobile Master Key (all but KABIA)
- Fail to Comply with Undertaking (OWUSU-HAMMOND)
Three of the six men arrested were on bail at the time for unrelated matters.
“Our investigators are working diligently to tackle organized auto theft,” said York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween. “In conjunction with utilizing a data-driven approach and making use of specialized tools and resources, our dedicated teams work closely with our law enforcement partners to optimize our results.”
“The Canada Border Services Agency works closely with local police and enforcement partners across the country to disrupt, investigate and prosecute organized crime,” said David Glos, acting regional director general of CBSA for the Greater Toronto Area Region. “In this investigation, Canada Border Services Agency Intelligence and Border Services Officers shared information and provided on-the-ground support to York Regional Police.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Auto Cargo Theft Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext.6651, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.
