Police forces from Quebec and Ontario began a joint investigation on Wednesday after officers uncovered dozens of stolen cars and a large quantity of aluminum ingots on a property in Sainte‑Julie, a community in the Montérégie region of Quebec.
The cache was found during a routine check of the site, where investigators reported that the vehicles appeared to have been taken from various locations across both provinces. The aluminum ingots, stored in several metal containers, were also seized as part of the operation.
Authorities from the Sûreté du Québec and the Ontario Provincial Police confirmed that the discovery prompted immediate collaboration between the two jurisdictions. Investigators are pooling resources and sharing intelligence to trace the origin of the stolen automobiles and to determine how the metal was being moved across the provincial border.
Both police agencies said the joint effort reflects a growing need for inter‑provincial cooperation in tackling organized theft and the illegal trafficking of recyclable materials. Detectives will continue to examine the property, interview witnesses and review surveillance footage to identify any additional suspects.
The investigation remains active, and officials have not released further details about the number of vehicles or the exact weight of the aluminum recovered. Police have indicated that any persons connected to the thefts may face charges in either province, depending on the evidence gathered.
Sainte‑Julie lies about 45 kilometres east of Montreal and is part of a largely residential and commercial corridor that has seen a rise in vehicle theft reports over the past year, according to regional crime statistics. The presence of the metal cache suggests a possible link to the recycling trade, which law enforcement agencies monitor for illegal diversion.
Investigators have not disclosed whether any arrests have been made, and the property remains under police control while forensic teams process evidence.