53 stolen vehicles were found during a container search at the Port of Montreal

Authorities say they made a major seizure Tuesday in a crackdown on car theft.

As a result of the search of 26 containers at the port of Montreal, 53 stolen vehicles destined to be shipped abroad were seized.

The seizure comes days after the Liberal government held a summit in Ottawa on the rise of auto theft, where the government pledged $28 million to help combat the export of stolen vehicles overseas, mainly to Africa and the Middle East.

The federal government estimates that about 90,000 cars are stolen across Canada each year, costing policyholders and taxpayers about $1 billion.

– This La Presse Canadienne report was translated by CityNews