Canada Prime Minister lists Ghana, Nigeria as destination for stolen vehicles from Greater Toronto Area; suspected gang leader hiding in Ghana

Imagine driving a high earned vehicle and suddenly it stops right in the middle of the George Bush Highway. The highway patrol team from Ghana Police Service [GPS] pulled by and towed your vehicle away.

After a thorough investigation, the shocking news was that your vehicle was stolen in Toronto, Canada by a car thief, shipped to Ghana and sold to you. There is no doubt that Ghanaians are holding fast to their traditions and culture in far away City of Toronto, Canada.

But the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada Right Honorable Justin Trudeau has listed Ghana and Nigeria when it comes to organised crime [auto theft] as a major crime facing Canada. Accordingly, stolen cars in Greater Toronto Area [GTA] in Canada were either discovered in Ghana or listed online for sale in Nigeria.

The York Regional Police have stated that there are a large number of stolen vehicles that have been containerized and are currently at sea heading towards United Arab Emirates [UAE], Nigeria and Ghana.

In a press statement signed and issued by Detective Scot Creswell of York Regional Police recently, he said 18 people have been charged with more than 170 offences following a recent raid that recovered 73 high earned stolen vehicles worth 4.5 million dollars.

Accordingly, the police identified a criminal syndicate in GTA and Montreal area responsible for stealing high-earned vehicles from affluent neighborhoods.

Suspect Abu Ayi, age 44, believed to be hiding in Ghana

They would generally scout cars in the evening hours, returning in the early morning hours they would force entry into those vehicles and at that point they would be reprogramming the cars' computer to recognize a brand new key [fob] Dt. Scot Creswell disclosed.

He revealed that the total time taken to steal one high earned vehicle in Toronto was less than five minutes as one of its investigations dubbed “Project Majestic” focused on the stealing of Lexus, Toyota and Honda sport utility vehicles.

The Police said the vehicles were driven directly to the port of Montreal or loaded into sea containers in Toronto and transported to Montreal by train. They were then loaded onto ships and delivered to buyers in Africa mainly Nigeria and Ghana or United Arab Emirates.

Further investigations have revealed that Crime Stoppers in GTA has disclosed its top five most wanted list for car theft in York Region including a suspect Abu Ayi, age 44, believed to be hiding in Ghana.

Det. Sgt. Pat Smyth also of YRP stated that through 'Project Victory' in 2020, Abu Ayi with the last known address in Toronto, was identified as the alleged leader of a group targeting Honda and Toyota SUVs for overnight driveway thefts.

It was learnt at the time YRP recovered 70 stolen vehicles worth 4.5 million dollars from across GTA, and were able to link the crime ring to 32 stolen vehicles shipped to either Nigeria or Ghana.

Abu Ayi was charged, but while awaiting trial, Det. Pat Smyth said, “he fled to Ghana with a fraudulent passport, prompting investigators to believe he will not return to Canada."

Therefore, car dealers in Ghana have been advised against buying high earned vehicles which may be under police monitoring and recovery because they were stolen in Canada.