FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 18, 2026

EDMONTON, ALBERTA – The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) is proud to announce the winner of an award recognizing the contributions of individuals and/or teams who have exhibited excellence, innovation, and initiative to detect, disrupt, and dismantle criminal organizations.

This year’s CACP Award of Excellence for Combating Organized Crime was presented to Ontario’s Provincial Auto Theft and Towing Team (PATT) for Project Chickadee, an intelligence-led investigation conducted by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

Pictured from left to right: Detective Steve Shannon (Toronto Police Service), Detective Constable Chad Power (London Police Service), Detective Sergeant Ricky Adach (Ontario Provincial Police), Acting Detective Staff Sergeant Michael Currie (Ontario Provincial Police), Detective Constable Dave Lumi (Peel Regional Police Service), Investigator Jag Sodhi (Canadian Border Services Agency), and Analyst Tara Snea (Canadian Border Services Agency).

The investigation targeted a transnational organized crime network responsible for fraud‑based thefts, carjackings, electronic manipulation of vehicle keyless‑entry and immobilizer systems using key‑programming devices, reVINing, storage, and the international exportation of stolen vehicles.

The investigation exposed the complete theft‑to‑export supply chain and identified offender roles, financing, storage locations, and export routes used by a structured criminal group operating across jurisdictions and international borders. Over several years, the team progressed from early intelligence gathering to two major enforcement phases in October and November 2025.

Officers executed 23 coordinated search warrants across six jurisdictions in Ontario and Quebec, resulting in 17 arrests and 16 criminal organization‑related charges. The investigation recovered 284 stolen vehicles valued at more than $25 million and seized offence‑related property, firearms, forged documents, shipping records, electronic devices, and more than $220,000 in currency.                                            

The analysis conducted by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) identified $4.7 million in suspicious transactions linked to foreign entities, which confirmed transnational activity and guided subsequent enforcement.

Project Chickadee also supported public awareness initiatives by sharing information about keyless‑entry thefts, fraudulent documentation, and how organized crime use freight forwarding companies to move stolen vehicles. Partner agencies used this information in prevention campaigns that helped communities secure vehicles, report suspicious activity, and understand risks linked to organized auto theft.

Intelligence from the project continues to support partner agencies and ongoing vehicle recoveries, delivering sustained disruption to organized auto theft in Ontario and abroad.

“Through intelligence-led policing and extensive collaboration, the winning team identified key offenders and international connections. They developed an investigative strategy capable of attacking the organization at multiple levels. This winning team was recognized for their willingness to look beyond individual auto thefts, to challenge assumptions, and to take on the complex and evolving problem of auto theft.” — Assistant Commissioner Will Ng, co-chair of the CACP’s Organized Crime Committee.

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For further information or to arrange a media interview, please contact:

Natalie Wright | natalie@cacp.ca | 613.838.8807 | www.cacp.ca