Since February 2024, over 1,500 vehicles cars in Canada have been located worldwide after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) successfully integrated the Canadian Police Information Centre’s (CPIC) stolen vehicle data with INTERPOL’s Stolen Motor Vehicle (SMV) Database.
The CPIC database, containing information on approximately 150,000 stolen vehicles in Canada, has resulted in more than 200 of these vehicles being identified weekly as their details are scrutinized by law enforcement globally, typically at national ports of entry.
Canada ranks among the top 10 countries worldwide for hits received via the SMV database this year, among 137 connected countries according to INTERPOL.
According to INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock:
“Stolen vehicles are international criminal currency. They are not only used in drug trafficking but also as payment to other criminal networks, fueling activities from human trafficking to terrorism.
“Often underestimated, a stolen car is not just vehicle theft; it is a significant revenue stream for transnational organized crime. By enhancing global data sharing, we can better screen vehicles at border points, trace trafficking routes, and apprehend the culprits.”
INTERPOL’s SMV database enables police in member countries to instantly check if a suspicious vehicle has been reported stolen.
In 2023, approximately 226,000 vehicles globally were identified as stolen through the SMV database.
In recent years, Canada has become a major source country for stolen motor vehicles, partly due to its abundant supply of high-value models such as SUVs and crossovers. Many of these vehicles are shipped to the Middle East and West Africa, where they are either traded or resold.
This week Canadian Federal government announced a new plan to combat auto theft.