The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has made additional arrests in relation Project Ninja.
The original bust was first announced on Wednesday, September 11th. The three-month investigation resulted in the arrest of four suspects, with Canada-wide warrants issued for four others, and has dismantled an organized auto theft group that had been operating throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Following the initial investigation, on Thursday, September 12th, 24-year-old Yacine Mamache of Montréal, Québec was arrested by Service de Police la Ville De Montreal (SPVM) and custody transferred to the HRPS where he was charged with the following:
- Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
- Theft of a Motor Vehicle
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime – Over $5000
- Trafficking in Stolen Property – Over $5000
Mamache has been held in custody pending a bail hearing.
On Monday, September 16th, 23-year-old Faycal Kessaci was arrested by HRPS officers in Oakville where he was charged with the following:
- Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
- Theft of a Motor Vehicle (2 Counts)
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime – Over $5000 (2 Counts)
Kessaci has been held in custody pending a bail hearing.
On Monday, September 23rd, 22-year-old Youli-Wass Aidali of Le Goulet, New Brunswick was arrested by HRPS officers in Oakville where he was charged with the following:
- Conspiracy to Commit and Indictable Offence
- Theft of a Motor Vehicle
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime – Over $5000
Aidali has been held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Yasser Hassani and Olivier Paquette continue to remain outstanding.
Anyone with information that may assist in the location and arrest of these individuals, or regarding this investigation is asked to contact investigators at 905-825-4747 ext. 7006.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
ORIGINAL (Published on Wednesday, September 11th at 12:23 p.m.)
The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has completed an extensive bust diving into a large number of stolen vehicles.
Labelled as Project Ninja, the three-month investigation resulted in the arrest of four suspects, with Canada-wide warrants issued for four others, and has dismantled an organized auto theft group that had been operating throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
In May, members of the HRPS Organized Crime Unit began an investigation into an organized group of auto thieves who had been operating within Halton and across the GTA. As the investigation progressed, a majority of the suspects were identified as Algerian nationals who had travelled to Canada. Once in the country, the suspects resided in Québec, but relocated to the GTA where they stayed in short-term rental accommodations. While based out of these locations, the suspects committed numerous reprogramming thefts, stealing vehicles over the course of several days before returning to Québec.
On Saturday, August 24th, HRPS officers arrested three suspects in relation to the investigation. A criminal code search warrant was subsequently executed for a short-term rental in Oshawa, where additional evidence was located and seized. Included in the seizure was a large Toy Hauler RV that was used to conceal and transport the stolen vehicles.
At a press conference held at the HRPS headquarters in Oakville, Deputy Chief Jeff Hill touched on how these thefts impact our community.
He notes that when criminals are willing to enter our homes and cars, it shakes the community’s sense of safety.
Deputy Chief Hill says this group is believed to be responsible for at least 40 stolen vehicles, valued at more than $3 million total.
The following individuals have been arrested and charged:
23-year-old Amine Garti of Montréal, Québec:
- Theft of a Motor Vehicle (5 Counts)
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime – Over $5000 (4 Counts)
- Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
- Trafficking Stolen Property – Over $5000
Garti has been held in custody pending a bail hearing.
23-year-old Badr-Eddine Draoui of Montréal, Québec:
- Theft of a Motor Vehicle (3 Counts)
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime – Over $5000 (4 Counts)
- Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
- Trafficking Stolen Property – Over $5000 (2 Counts)
- Fail to Comply with Release Order (2 Counts)
Draoui has been held in custody pending a bail hearing.
23-year-old Ramy Bitout of Montréal, Québec:
- Theft of a Motor Vehicle
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime – Over $5000
Bitout has been held in custody pending a bail hearing.
35-year-old Olivier Paquette of Saint-Jérôme, Québec was arrested by the OPP on July 24th and is currently wanted by the Halton Regional Police Service on the following charges:
- Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime – Over $5000 (2 Counts)
- Trafficking Stolen Property – Over $5000 (2 Counts)
Canada-wide arrest warrants have also been issued for the following individuals:
22-year-old Youli-Wass Aidali of Le Goulet, New Brunswick:
- Conspiracy to Commit and Indictable Offence
- Theft of a Motor Vehicle
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime – Over $5000
23-year-old Yasser Hassani of Montréal, Québec:
- Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
- Theft of a Motor Vehicle (6 Counts)
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime – Over $5000 (5 Counts)
- Trafficking Stolen Property – Over $5000
23-year-old Faycal Kessaci:
- Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
- Theft of a Motor Vehicle (2 Counts)
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime – Over $5000 (2 Counts)
24-year-old Yacine Mamache of Montréal, Québec:
- Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
- Theft of a Motor Vehicle
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime – Over $5000
- Trafficking in Stolen Property – Over $5000
Here’s a video of the suspects using a hauler.
Anyone with information that may assist in the location and arrest of these individuals, or regarding this investigation is asked to contact investigators at 905-825-4747 ext. 7006.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
