The Alberta RCMP are highlighting a successful operation undertaken by our Auto Theft Unit. In December of 2024, the Alberta RCMP Auto Theft Unit, with assistance from the Central Intelligence Service of Alberta and the RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region Intelligence, identified numerous individuals that were using Alberta Registries’ Third-Party Authorization System to register fraudulent VINs under unsuspecting persons’ names without their permission. These fraudulent VINs were then used to conceal stolen vehicles., The investigation to date has resulted in the recovery of  vehicles in various parts of Canada and overseas 

The investigation saw the Alberta RCMP Auto Theft Unit execute several search warrants in the city of Edmonton with assistance from the Central Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit, St. Albert RCMP Crime Reduction Unit and Edmonton Police Service. As a result in part of evidence gathered at the search warrants, seven persons were charged with a total of 99 criminal charges.

Since the beginning of the investigation, the Alberta RCMP Auto Theft Unit has recovered approximately $1.9 million in stolen vehicles and are currently working to locate more than 150 other vehicles, 30 vehicles being linked to the charged individuals, with further investigational step still ongoing. 

Additionally, during this investigation police seized 

• Over 1 kg of cocaine; 

• more than 200 Oxycontin pills;

• and nearly $10,000 in cash.

As a result of the investigation police have charged Mohamed Hajar (40), a resident of Edmonton with;

• Uttering Forged Document (x28);

• Fraudulent Concealment (x5);

• Fraud over $5,000;

• Illegal Possession of Identity Documents (x6);

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (x2);

• Participation in Criminal Organization;

• Recruitment of Member for Criminal Organization; and

• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (x2).

Ryan Garford (40), a resident of Edmonton has been charged with:

• Uttering Forged Document (x22);

• Fraudulent Concealment (x5); and

• Fraud over $5,000.

Sean Broyles (37), a resident of Edmonton has been charged with 7 counts of Uttering Forged Document.

Yuvraj Dhillon (22), a resident of Edmonton, has been charged with:

• Fraud over $5,000; and

• Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000.

All four of the above residents of Edmonton are set to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in Edmonton on July 29, 2025.

Additionally, warrants for the following persons have been issued:

• Zachary Frazer (34), a resident of Edmonton, for 7 counts of Uttering forged Document.

• Loranne Smith (56), a resident of High River, for 3 counts of uttering a forged document.

• and Darlene Noel (61), a resident of High River, 6 counts of uttering a forged document.

Third-Party Authorizations through Alberta Registries has been identified as a loophole that has been significantly exploited by individuals involved in organized crime to legitimize stolen re-VINned vehicles. The Alberta RCMP’s Auto Theft Unit is committed to working with Service Alberta to protect the vehicle registration system.

“Between January and June the Alberta RCMP have seen a continuous drop in Auto thefts 4 years in a row with the highest drop this year of 18 percent. That equates to almost 1000 fewer vehicles stolen by this time of the year when compared to 2022.” says Staff Sergeant Luke Halvorson of the Alberta RCMP Community Safety Unit.  “The RCMP’s commitment to crime reduction principles through units like the Auto Theft, our Crime Reduction Teams, our Community Response Teams and our hard working front line members, is having clear impacts on crime rates.”