A major police operation in Canada has uncovered an organised carjacking network with links to Ghana, leading to multiple arrests and the recovery of high-value stolen vehicles destined for overseas shipment.
The operation, led by Peel Regional Police and dubbed Project Stratis, targeted a series of violent, armed carjackings reported across the Peel Region and the Greater Toronto Area between January 18 and February 1, 2026.
Investigators said the suspects focused primarily on high-end vehicles, particularly models manufactured by Mercedes-Benz. Police uncovered that the group was not only carrying out the robberies but had also established a system to alter vehicle identification numbers and facilitate resale or shipment abroad.
“Officers determined the accused were not only carrying out the robberies but also arranging for the stolen vehicles to be re-vinned and resold or shipped overseas to Ghana,” the police said in a statement.
The investigation, carried out with support from the Toronto Police Service, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Canada Border Services Agency, led to the execution of multiple search warrants. Authorities recovered eight stolen vehicles valued at approximately $800,000, along with two replica firearms.
Police said the vehicles were found concealed in storage lockers, an auto body shop and shipping containers, indicating a coordinated effort to move them out of the country.
In a significant development, two suspects were arrested at Toronto Pearson International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Ghana, following intelligence shared by border officials.
In total, six individuals were arrested and are facing 30 charges, including robbery, conspiracy, possession of property obtained by crime and laundering the proceeds of crime.
Authorities say the operation forms part of broader efforts to dismantle organised auto theft networks across the region. According to police data, auto theft has declined by 20 per cent, while reported carjackings have dropped by 79 per cent compared to the same period last year.
Commenting on the development, Chief Nishan Duraiappah said violent carjackings have far-reaching consequences beyond financial loss.
“Violent, armed carjackings and auto theft do more than steal property — they disrupt lives and take away a person’s sense of safety. No one should have to experience that. We have made significant progress in targeting these crimes and disrupting organized auto theft networks in our communities, and Project Stratis is another example of this critical work.”
Officials from the Canada Border Services Agency also highlighted the importance of intelligence-sharing in intercepting stolen vehicles and preventing suspects from fleeing the country.
The latest breakthrough underscores growing concerns about transnational vehicle theft operations, with authorities warning that stolen cars are increasingly being funnelled through complex international networks.
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