Quebec provincial police say 2 gangs were targeted in a seizure of 54 vehicles at the Port of Montreal.

A police operation that led to the seizure of 54 stolen vehicles in 26 containers at the Port of Montreal targeted two criminal groups, according to the Sûreté du Quebec (SQ).

Provincial police Lt. Mathieu Pronovost said the stolen vehicles were mostly luxury cars, including a Toyota RAV4 and a Honda CRV.

In recent weeks, the prevalence of car theft in Canada has become a major talking point in federal politics.

The federal government says about 90,000 cars are stolen in Canada each year, costing Canadian insurance policy owners and taxpayers about $1 billion.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals held a summit that brought together federal, provincial and municipal officials, as well as representatives from the auto and insurance industries, to discuss the problem.

The federal government has announced it will spend $28 million to help curb the export of stolen vehicles. This money gives the CBSA the ability to identify and search cargo containers carrying stolen vehicles.

Conservative leader Pierre Poillevre also made a public appearance this month at the port of Montreal – a common exit point for stolen cars shipped overseas.

Pronovost said this week's seizures were the result of two investigations. One of them started in August and the other was just a few weeks old, he said, and the vehicles were headed to Morocco and Belgium.

No arrests have been made yet.

Tuesday's operation was conducted by a team consisting of investigators from the State Security Service, RKPB and the city police service. A team called en in French Escouade régionale mixte (ERM) announced SQ last week.

Pronovost noted that this team will support the work carried out by SQ Bureau des partenariats enquêtes (BPE), which was introduced in 2022.

“So this is not a start, it's more of a continuation. “Now we will have more resources to deal with this problem.”

The ERM, which is responsible for investigating vehicle theft, says drivers should follow certain tips to avoid becoming victims:

• Lock car doors, close windows and sunroofs, and don't leave valuables visible behind.
• Do not leave vehicle keys, insurance and registration documents in the vehicle.
• Even if the keys are inside your home, don't leave them near the car, especially if the car can be started remotely.
• If possible, park your car in a well-lit area.
• Never leave a running vehicle unattended.