The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, announced the deployment of a mobile X-ray scanner to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). This technology will increase the examination of containers in Ontario.
This is one of the initiatives being undertaken as part of the National Action Plan Combatting Auto Theft, which focuses on disrupting, dismantling, and prosecuting the organized criminal groups behind auto theft. The Government of Canada continues to explore solutions and to identify the most efficient methods in the interception of stolen vehicles, including using non-intrusive inspection technology to assist in examinations and seizures.
Auto theft is impacting Canadians, particularly in our urban centres. It increasingly involves organized crime groups, who are using the proceeds of those thefts to fund other illegal activities. There is no single solution to this complex problem. Through the Government of Canada’s national leadership, and cooperation between governments, industry and law enforcement, we are beginning to see results – and the Government of Canada intends to build on them.
Border services officers conduct daily export examination and select containers of interest for secondary examination at docks or warehouses. The CBSA acts on 100% of referrals received from the police and also conducts searches based on its own intelligence. So far in 2024, the CBSA has intercepted more than 1,300 stolen vehicles in railyards and ports, including 452 in the GTA.
“The addition of this scanner in the GTA will provide border services officers with an additional tool to detect stolen vehicles before they can leave the country. We’ll keep taking action to crack down on auto theft and the organized crime groups behind it.”
The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
“Today, we’re taking a significant step forward in our work to combat auto theft in Ontario. By harnessing cutting-edge technology to enhance container examinations, we’re bolstering our ability to disrupt and dismantle organized criminal groups. We remain committed to leveraging the most effective methods to intercept stolen vehicles and keep our communities safe.”
The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
