Leader of Auto Theft Ring charged with 46 offences

Sayasith Phothitay, an alleged key figure in a major global car theft ring, has been arrested for breaking his bail conditions.

He was among 23 people caught in July 2023 when authorities shut down a large auto theft operation in Windsor and across Ontario.

Project Fairfield, led by the Windsor Police Service and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), resulted in the seizure of 138 stolen cars, $170,000 in cash both Canadian and U.S. and over $500,000 worth of illegal drugs.

Phothitay, 36, had been released on bail after being charged with 46 offenses, including drug trafficking, auto theft, fraud and dealing in stolen property. One of his bail conditions was to follow a strict curfew.