Hamilton police bust auto theft ring, multiple people charged

Hamilton police have arrested and charged several people after a year-long investigation – dubbed Project Polar Bear – into a southern Ontario auto theft ring.

The ring targeted high-end vehicles, stealing them at night and loading them into shipping containers bound for Ghana, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates.

Some of the stolen vehicles were re-vinned and sold to unsuspecting Canadian buyers as well.

Police executed nine search warrants at private residences and businesses in Hamilton, Niagara, Halton and Haldimand County on Tuesday.

Throughout the investigation, officers were able to recover over 200 vehicles, valued at $15 million. Over half were stolen from Hamilton, while the rest were taken from other locations within the GTA.

In addition to the recovered vehicles, police also seized half a gram of cocaine, several kilograms of psilocybin, two loaded handguns, $35,000 in proceeds of crime, and several devices used to steal key fob signals and alter vehicle identification numbers.

Hamilton police have charged the following people:

• Bashdar Kader, 26, of Hamilton
• Didar Kader, 34, of Hamilton
• Faris Al-Hakim, 19, of Burlington
• Dhergham Al-Hilo, 26, of Hamilton
• Hawker Manmi, 43, of Niagara Falls
• Hasanin Mosa, 26, of Haldimand County
• Unnamed Woman, 25, of Hamilton

Hasan Sulaiman, 19, of Hamilton is still wanted in relation to this case.

Auto theft remains a problem in southern Ontario. Investigators say 1612 vehicles were stolen in Hamilton alone last year.

The investigation is ongoing and further charges may be pending, police say.

Anyone with further information regarding this auto theft case is asked to contact Det. Emerson Heaslip at eheaslip@hamiltonpolice.ca.

READ MORE: Hamilton police conduct search warrants in ongoing carjacking investigation