A Vaughan man is among four arrested in a York Regional Police investigation into cargo thefts throughout York Region and the Greater Toronto Area, resulting in the recovery of $1.65 million in stolen tractor trailer loads.
Project Copperhead was launched In December 2022 when high-value cargo loads were being targeted and sold for large profits, police said in a news release. In most cases, to carry out these thefts, other tractors, trailers and vehicles were stolen first to facilitate the operation of moving and storing the cargo.
Police identified several people involved in the thefts of the cargo and trafficking of the stolen goods and issued five search warrants to recover $1.65 million in cargo and vehicles, including eight stolen tractor trailers and six full cargo loads, police said.
Charged are: Paramjeet Singh, 23, of Vaughan; Sameer Rathaur, 21, of Brampton; Atif Heral, 43, of Toronto; and Asif Rasool, 48, of Mississauga.
Eighteen criminal charges in relation to the organized theft and trafficking of cargo were laid, including: trafficking in stolen goods over $5,000; possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000; and identity theft, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call 1-866-876-5423, ext.6651, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips or leave an anonymous tip online.
