Russia Becomes Main Destination For Cars Stolen In Canada - NYT

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) The New York Times stated this in an article, Ukrinform reports.

According to Interpol, from February 2024 through July 2026, the organization received 4,798 reports of vehicles stolen in Canada that were later found in Russia.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police says Russia is the leading international destination for Canadian vehicles reported stolen to Interpol.

The actual scale of the problem is significantly larger, however, as not all cases of vehicle theft and recovery are entered into Interpol's database.

There is particularly high demand for pickup trucks such as the Toyota Tundra, Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram, which can be used for military purposes.

Read also: At least 92 Americans killed in combat in Ukraine - NYT

For example, a propaganda video broadcast by a television channel controlled by Russia's Defense Ministry showed Dodge Ram pickup trucks at a large Russian drone manufacturing plant. One of the drones was launched from the bed of such a vehicle.

The New York Times notes that sanctions against Russia, which have restricted access to the Western automotive market, have created conditions for the development of illegal supply channels. After Western automakers withdrew from the Russian market, criminal groups began filling the resulting gap.

According to the Canada Border Services Agency, its officers now detect 20–30 stolen vehicles worth up to $2 million in total every week at the Port of Montreal.

Canadian law enforcement agencies have established that stolen vehicles most often reach Russia via the United Arab Emirates. Routes through Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Lithuania are also used.

As Ukrinform reported, 605 vehicle thefts were recorded in Ukraine in 2025.

Illustrative photo: Toyota

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