OTA says extortion, theft and violence gripping Ontario trucking industry
The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) says escalating truck and trailer thefts, extortion and organized crime-related violence have become a crisis for Ontario’s trucking industry.
The comments followed a series of announcements made Jan. 13 by federal and provincial officials at a trilateral summit focused on extortion targeting businesses and individuals, according to an OTA news release.
Gary Anandasangaree, minister of public safety, Ruby Sahota, secretary of state for combating crime, and Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner announced $1 million in funding for Peel Regional Police to combat extortion, along with $4 million over four years to the province of Ontario to address the illegal drug trade.
OTA said a surge in extortion attempts, often accompanied by targeted shootings and other forms of violence, has affected many trucking businesses and surrounding communities near transportation hubs, primarily in the Greater Toronto Area.
“Extortion and organized crime are plaguing Ontarians and businesses, and the Ontario trucking industry is one of the main targets,” OTA President Stephen Laskowski said in the release. “This is a serious problem that requires multijurisdictional commitment and resources. Today’s announcements are a welcomed start, but much more needs to be done.”
International gangs
About 470 extortion cases have been reported in the region since December 2023. Police and the minister of public safety have linked the increase to international gangs involved in the movement of guns and illegal drugs.
OTA said it has repeatedly raised concerns about the growing presence of organized crime in the trucking industry, noting a related rise in truck and trailer thefts and increased seizures of guns and drugs at the border and at businesses connected to trucking operations.
“Organized crime is gaining a chokehold on the trucking industry, and the rampant lawlessness is becoming out of control, threatening the physical safety of people and businesses in our sector as well as the global reputation of our province as a safe and secure place to do business,” Laskowski said.
OTA said it has communicated its concerns to Queen’s Park regarding truck and community safety and the broader impact of organized crime on the trucking industry.
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“OTA says extortion, theft and violence gripping Ontario Trucking Industry.”
Confront the facts regarding the ethnic identity of the majority of perpetrators responsible for this ongoing criminality.
Then, claim to be outraged and deem that content libelous, racist or threatening!
This country continues to dig it’s own grave deeper!
Facts don’t care about your feelings.
I hope, wish and pray that everyone stays safe and unaffected from this!
#SafetyFirst
this is why most truckers have been keeping guns and dogs with them, from way back in the 70’s
it’s popular culture
This was caused in the past 4 yrs by having large number of truck drivers and lease ops unable to support a family by legal means. The first thing they do is try to work more hours and or make more trips to pay the bills . When this did not work they often cut maintaince and run as corp account when this not enough . Often truck drivers are offered a large amount of $ to do certain things . We need better enforcement and a big stick when needed . We should not blame foreign truck driver that are not paid enough to support their family after getting misleading information by the people and or companies before coming to Canada
Maybe the OTA shouldn’t have been so adamant about T4A’s in their conversations and committees with the Fed government. They should have focused on more enforcement.