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OPP, local police arrest 20, recover 300 stolen vehicles in nation-wide probe

Posted:December 17, 2025 | 12:08 PM
By:Bridget Laur
Co-author:Emily Tayler

Updated: December 18, 2025 | 4:38 PM

Car parts stored in a shipping container and several license plates which were discovered and seized as part of the Ontario Provincial Police investigation dubbed Project Chickadee which looked at the shipping of stolen vehicles overseas (Photo courtesy of Ontario Provincial Police).

The Ontario Provincial Police, with the investigative help of Niagara, Halton and Brantford police, announced 20 arrests and more than 300 recovered vehicles as part of an investigation into the alleged auto theft network that spans Canada and some international regions.

Officers dubbed the investigation Project Chickadee after it began in August 2023 when police discovered four stolen vehicles in the Greater Toronto Area that they linked to organized crime.

OPP allege the auto theft network is involved with freight forwarding companies and used fraudulent documents to ship vehicles to the Middle East and West Africa.

“Evidence revealed a sophisticated criminal network, including registered freight forwarding companies, utilizing fraudulent documentation to facilitate the illegal export of stolen vehicles overseas,” said Det. Insp. Scott Wade of the OPP.

Police say search warrants were executed throughout Ontario and in one Quebec location in October and November, with local searches being done on Nov. 27 at residences in Oakville and Milton.

Provincial police were assisted by the Canada Border Services Agency when inspecting shipping containers at ports in Montreal, Vancouver and Halifax, where the cars are alleged to be shipped from.

Detectives recovered 306 vehicles believed to be stolen, several license plates from multiple provinces, more than $190,000 in Canadian money and various other items.

“What really drives the vehicles being stolen is the demand overseas,” said Bryan Gast, the national VP of Investigative Services at the Équité Association. “So right now they’re looking for newer model SUVs and pick up trucks, which definitely dominates what’s being stolen.”

Among the 20 people who are facing 134 charges, 52-year-old Muhammad Mirza of Milton is facing 20 charges, 37-year-old Zia Qazi of Oakville was given four charges and 45-year-old Samina Kamran of Milton is facing five charges.

The individuals charged range from 20 to 64-years-old.

Anyone with any information in relation to this investigation or auto theft activity should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.