In 2024, border services officers in Mississauga and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) have intercepted more than 650 stolen vehicles destined for illegal overseas markets, according to a report released on Monday.

Auto theft has been a rapidly growing issue in Peel Region, particularly in Mississauga and Brampton, which have seen the highest increase in vehicle thefts in Canada, as noted by Peel Regional Police. Police across Ontario and Canada are hopeful that the recovery figures released by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) signal progress in the fight against auto theft, with CBSA working closely with local law enforcement to tackle auto theft, drug smuggling, and other criminal activities.

The CBSA’s report detailing enforcement and operational activities in the GTA from January 1 to October 31 reveals that officers have recovered over 650 vehicles stolen from southern Ontario, primarily from Mississauga, Brampton, and surrounding areas.

Car thieves often target luxury cars and SUVs, stealing them from driveways overnight while residents sleep. The stolen vehicles are quickly moved out of the region, often to Montreal, before being shipped overseas in large containers to markets in the Middle East and Africa.

The GTA region is home to the CBSA’s largest air, cargo, mail processing, and trade operations, with Toronto Pearson Airport—Canada’s busiest airport—serving as a key entry point. Additionally, Mississauga houses a large mail processing facility near the airport.

CBSA officers are focused on preventing illicit drugs, firearms, and other contraband from entering or leaving Canada. To aid in the battle against auto theft, the GTA region has implemented new, non-intrusive inspection technology, allowing officers to detect and seize stolen vehicles along with other illegal goods.

This summer, the Canadian government introduced a new scanner in the GTA to inspect marine containers for stolen vehicles before they leave the country. According to the CBSA, this technology, combined with intelligence and police referrals, has enhanced efforts to intercept stolen vehicles, with over 650 recovered so far this year.

Other key data from the CBSA’s report for 2024 (January 1 to October 31) includes:

– *4,700 prohibited weapons*, 900 replica firearms, and 111 firearm parts seized
– *3,176 narcotic seizures*, preventing the distribution of over 10,000 kilograms of drugs, including methamphetamines and fentanyl
– The seizure of *six pill presses* imported from China, which are used in the illegal production of opioids
– *1,827 cannabis seizures*, totaling over 6,400 kilograms of marijuana (although legal in Canada, transporting it out of the country is prohibited)
– *$3.5 million in undeclared currency*, some believed to be proceeds from crime

One significant seizure occurred in September when CBSA officers executed search warrants at two homes in Oshawa, recovering various drugs, firearm paraphernalia, and equipment used in a clandestine narcotics lab. One individual was charged with 18 offences related to smuggling, possession, and importation.

In June, a border officer at Pearson Airport intercepted over 26 kilograms of suspected cocaine after noticing irregularities in a traveler’s luggage during an X-ray scan.