The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-led Provincial Auto Theft and Towing (PATT) Team has charged four individuals, including one employee of a privately-operated ServiceOntario centre, following an investigation into the resale of stolen, re‑VINned vehicles in Ontario.
Project TAILWIND was initiated in March 2026 relating to re-VINning and fraudulent registration of stolen vehicles. The investigation revealed that documents required in Ontario’s vehicle registration process were being improperly obtained and misused. These documents were then used to facilitate giving stolen vehicles new Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN), allowing them to be registered with the Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO), sold and driven on public roads as legitimate vehicles.
The Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement (MPBSDP) (through ServiceOntario) and the MTO oversee the registration of vehicles in Ontario. The OPP has engaged the MPBSDP and the MPBSDP has supported the investigation.
On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, four search warrants were executed on residences in Maple, Brampton and Kitchener as well as on one vehicle by members from:
- OPP PATT Team and partners
- OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau
- OPP Highway Enforcement Team
- OPP Digital Forensics
- OPP Forensic Identification Services
Investigators recovered six stolen vehicles as well as electronic devices.
As a result of the investigation, Sonia CIANFARAN, age 28 of Vaughan, was charged with the following Criminal Code (CC) offences:
- Breach of trust, s. 122 CC
- Trafficking property obtained by crime over $5,000, s. 355.2 CC
Sarvathan BALASUBRAMANIAM, age 32, of Brampton, Gajan KARUNANITHY age 34 of Brampton and Jose LOZANO, age 36 of Kitchener were each charged with:
- Use, deals, acts on forged document, s. 368(1)(a) CC
- Trafficking property obtained by crime over $5,000, s. 355.2 CC
The accused were released from custody and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket on Friday, June 12, 2026.
Anyone with any information in relation to this investigation or auto theft activity should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
The OPP continues to work with policing and investigative partners, including Équité Association, to disrupt organized vehicle theft and VIN fraud to reduce the impact of these crimes in Ontario.
WHAT IS RE‑VINNING?
Every vehicle has a unique identifier, also known as the VIN. Re‑VINning is the process of altering or replacing a vehicle’s VIN to conceal its identity and make it appear legitimate. This allows stolen vehicles to be resold to unsuspecting buyers or used for criminal purposes. Altering, removing or destroying a VIN is a criminal offence.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
