6 arrested, 5 remain at large in auto theft ring that operated around Toronto Pearson Airport: police

December 20, 2024 Canuck

Peel police have arrested seven people and issued arrest warrants for five more suspects who are allegedly part of a Quebec theft ring responsible for stealing more than 100 vehicles in and around Toronto Pearson International Airport.

On Friday, police announced the results of its investigation into the “well-coordinated” theft ring dubbed “Project Tallahassee.”

It began in July when the Airport Division Criminal Investigation Bureau “identified, mapped and analyzed crime patterns,” which led investigators to believe that a car theft ring was operating around the airport and targeting 2022 to 2024 Lexus SUVs, Toyota Tundras, Sequoias, Highlanders and Ram trucks.

“By leveraging advanced statistical data and crime trend analysis, they identified specific methods and tactics used by the thieves, their inner workings, and the routes they were using into and out of the airport area,” said Peel police, who collaborated with a number of forces and agencies, including the Greater Toronto Airports Authority and Canada Border Services Agency.

Officers conducted an operation between August and November that resulted in the arrest of six suspects. Police said they also executed several search warrants in Toronto that led to the seizure of computer programmers, master keys and signal-jamming devices.

They also recovered stolen vehicles worth almost $4 million.

On Friday, the six arrested suspects were identified as Jean Junior Goureille, 23; Ala Zadi, 27; Riccardo Charles, 35; Serkan Dikici Montimarquette, 22; Marie Mallous, 28; and Abdullah Farooq, 22.

Police said they have laid over 100 charges against the six.

Meanwhile, five more suspects remain at large and are wanted for a total of 48 auto theft-related offences. Investigators are looking for 30-year-old Marie-Sandy Desir, 31-year-old Shainna Faustin, 22-year-old Steven Trottier, 21-year-old Kyle Cain and 21-year-old Jamal Chery.

Police are urging them to seek legal counsel and turn themselves in.

“Peel Police continues to lead the field in arrests, just like in this investigation, which effectively shut down a proliferate auto theft ring,” Peel police Deputy Chief Marc Andrews said in a statement.

“This operation is a testament to the power of collaboration, data-driven investigations, and a shared commitment to protecting the public.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 905-453-2121 extension 3133 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.peelcrimestoppers.ca.

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