4 arrested in 407 ETR toll-fraud scheme involving 10 stolen vehicles worth $750K
Peel police recovered vehicles with altered VINs registered under fictitious companies to dodge tolls and parking fees.
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Four people have been arrested in a vehicle registration fraud scheme that recovered 10 stolen vehicles worth an estimated $750,000 and was linked to more than $100,000 in unpaid 407 ETR tolls.
The investigation, called Project Octane, launched in May 2026. Peel Regional Police, the Ministry of Transportation, and 407 ETR uncovered a scheme in which vehicles had been re-vinned and their licence plates registered to fictitious companies. The false registrations were created using fraudulent documents submitted at multiple ServiceOntario locations, allowing users to avoid paying tolls and parking fees.
Haroon Qayumzada, 31, of Caledon, was charged with fraud over $5,000 and three counts of use of forged documents. Gajan Karunanithy, 35, of Brampton, faces charges of possession of property obtained by crime and two counts of use of forged documents. Tariq Hameed, 53, of Milton, and Ismail Ismail, 37, of Toronto, were each charged with use of forged documents.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Peel Regional Police's Commercial Auto Crime Bureau.
The facts
How many vehicles were recovered in this fraud scheme?
10 stolen vehicles worth an estimated $750,000 were recovered in Project Octane.
How much in unpaid tolls was linked to the scheme?
More than $100,000 in unpaid 407 ETR tolls were linked to the fraud.
How were the vehicles registered to avoid tolls?
Vehicles had their VINs altered and licence plates registered to fictitious companies using fraudulent documents submitted at multiple ServiceOntario locations.
When did the investigation launch?
Project Octane launched in May 2026.
