Port of Montreal Border Agency Faces Challenges Intercepting Stolen Vehicles Due to Staffing Shortage

Canada Border Services have intercepted several stolen vehicles being shipped through the Port of Montreal by organized crime amidst a shortage of staff nationwide.

According to a recent report presented in the House of Commons, a total of 4,695 stolen vehicles were intercepted in Montreal between 2019 and 2023. The agency admitted that the full extent of the black market auto operation is unknown.

“The Canada Border Services Agency is unable to estimate the number of stolen vehicles that have entered or passed through the Port of Montreal,” the report stated. “The agency takes action on all referrals from law enforcement.”

Despite being recognized by Ottawa as the primary export hub for stolen vehicles headed to Africa and the Middle East, the Port of Montreal has limited on-site border agents for inspections.

Mark Weber, president of the Customs and Immigration Union, informed the public safety committee that staffing shortages have left as few as eight inspectors on duty at the Port.

Weber went on to explain that the agency is dealing with space constraints at the examination facility in Montreal, which has only six parking spots and is used for both imports and exports. This, coupled with staffing issues, leads to delays in inspections.

Moreover, the X-ray machine being used at the Port of Montreal is borrowed from Windsor, as the Montreal machine is out of order, leaving Windsor without a similar machine.

Representatives from the Quebec Association of Police Directors and the Global Automakers of Canada also highlighted the increase in organized crime groups involved in auto theft and the need for stronger measures to combat these criminal activities.

Organized Crime Auto Thefts

A report from Criminal Intelligence Service Canada revealed a 62 percent rise in the number of organized criminal groups operating in the stolen vehicle market. These groups are increasingly relying on lower-level criminals like street gangs to carry out the thefts.

The federal government described the auto theft operations coordinated by organized crime as highly profitable and sophisticated, with criminal rings across the country. Stolen vehicles are either sent abroad to the Middle East and Africa or used for local crimes before being disposed of.

The surge in thefts prompted a summit in February to address the issue and seek ways to reduce the number of stolen vehicles being exported. The lack of appropriate penalties for car thieves was highlighted as a concern by industry stakeholders and government officials.

Unlike Canada, the United States has been more successful in curbing stolen vehicle exports through stricter penalties, including jail time for offenders. In Canada, there is a need for stronger measures to deter organized crime involvement in auto theft.