Journalists Jane Bradley and Michael Schwirtz spent six months investigating the flow of stolen Canadian vehicles, uncovering a significant and previously underreported trend involving the trafficking of cars to Russia. Their inquiry began after receiving a tip from an Interpol official who had observed an unexpected pattern: large numbers of Canadian automobiles were being recovered in Russia, marking it as a major destination for such stolen vehicles.

The reporters worked extensively with sources from Interpol and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to obtain detailed records. These documents indicated that between February 2024 and July 2026, nearly 5,000 stolen Canadian cars were identified in Russia, making it the largest overseas market for these vehicles by a wide margin.

The investigation revealed an intricate and well-organized criminal network facilitating the operation. According to their findings, the thefts are “by order,” driven by black market demand for high-value Western trucks and cars. In practice, buyers in Russia would place specific requests—sometimes for dozens of vehicles such as Land Rovers—and communications would then pass to scouts operating in Canada who would locate and steal the targeted models from neighborhoods and parking areas.

This transnational collaboration underscores the sophistication and scale of the automotive theft trade, involving coordinated efforts across continents to supply lucrative markets for stolen luxury vehicles. The reporting highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in tracking and curbing such complex criminal enterprises that exploit international borders and market demands.