Winnipeg police are urging car shoppers to be hyper-vigilant after busting a ‘sophisticated’ criminal operation selling vehicles stolen from Ontario.
Nearly a year ago, investigators with Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) noted some irregularities with the VIN numbers of several high-end vehicles registered in Manitoba.
This prompted MPI and the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) to launch a joint investigation dubbed Project Buyer Bee Aware. Between January 2021 and January 2024, police said 16 vehicles – typically high-end models including Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Lexus cars – were stolen from Ontario.
They were then brought to Manitoba where their VINs were altered or cloned.
“The vehicles were then sold to unsuspecting businesses and private citizens in Winnipeg and the surrounding area,” said WPS Superintendent Cam Mackid, describing this as a “sophisticated” interprovincial operation.
He said several of the stolen vehicles were sold to an established dealership using forged documentation.
Police executed a search warrant at a home in Winnipeg and a commercial business in the RM of Springfield, seizing equipment used to alter VINs.
Police arrested 23-year-old Mohamad Kasem from Winnipeg. He is now facing 68 charges in connection to the operation. Police allege Kasem would sell the stolen vehicles to unsuspecting dealerships or private citizens through online platforms.
The charges and allegations have not been tested in court.
Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said this is one of the largest auto theft fraud cases in Manitoba history.
“Auto theft has historically been a serious issue in Manitoba,” he said, noting theft claims rose by 48 per cent between 2017 and 2023.
Anyone who purchased one of the stolen cars is being treated as a victim of fraud, MPI confirmed. The stolen vehicles are being auctioned off by Ontario insurance companies to recoup the cost for the claims.
Mackid said police are still investigating whether this operation is connected to organized crime groups. He said more arrests and seizures are anticipated.
For anyone looking to purchase a car – be it privately or through a dealership – Mackid urged shoppers to do their due diligence.
“It’s a matter of being really vigilant with respect to the owner history, especially vehicles that are coming from out of province,” he said, recommending people review the vehicle’s history and get it checked out by a dealership or mechanic before buying it.
“It’s a good reminder to citizens and to dealers to be hyper vigilant when it comes to verifying those cars as they come in for sale.”
