Six people are in custody and police are searching for five others involved in what they say is a well-coordinated car theft ring operating out of Quebec throughout Toronto and the GTA
Police say the group is believed to be responsible for over 100 stolen cars worth almost $4 million.
Investigators say in July 2024, the Airport Division Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) identified, mapped, and analyzed crime patterns indicating a car theft ring was operating in and around Pearson International Airport, targeting Lexus SUVs, Toyota SUVs and trucks and Ram trucks from the model years 2022 to 2024.
In collaboration with Airport Division Frontline Patrol, Greater Toronto Airports Authority, Canada Border Services Agency and police forces in Toronto, Halton, York, investigators identified specific methods and tactics used by the thieves and the routes they were using in and out of the airport area to identify the suspects.
From August to November, several residences in Toronto were searched and investigators recovered computer programmers, master keys and signal-jamming devices. Six suspects from Quebec were arrested and warrants issued for five others.
Jean Junior Goureille, 23, from Montreal-Nord, Ala Zadi, 27, from Pont-Rouge, Riccardo Charles, 35, from Montreal, Serkan Dikici Montimarquette, 22, from Montreal, Marie Mallous, 28, from Laval, and Abdullah Farooq, 22, from Laval, were all taken into custody in connection with this investigation and face a combined 100 theft-related offences, according to police.
Zadi is currently being held in a GTA detention center and is facing an additional 18 auto theft charges while Montimarquette failed to appear for his October court date and an arrest warrant has been issued.
Arrest warrants have been issued for Marie-Sandy Desir, 30, from Montreal, Shainna Faustin, 31, from Montreal, Steven Trottier, 22, from Laval, Kyle Cain, 21, from Montreal, and Jamal Chery, 21, from Laval. All five are facing a combined 44 auto theft-related criminal offences.
Investigators are encouraging them to seek legal counsel and turn themselves in to police.
