BREAKING: Two Montreal-based car rental companies, Citycar Rental and Coudicar Rental, along with their owner Habib Coudsi, are facing serious accusations of orchestrating a massive luxury car theft operation. New civil court filings reveal that these companies allegedly participated in an international fraud scheme, moving stolen vehicles worth over $9 million through Quebec and shipping them overseas.
Authorities in Quebec have identified Yaacoub Sarraf as a key figure in this purported criminal network. Investigators claim Sarraf oversaw the entire operation, which involved acquiring luxury vehicles using fraudulently obtained credit cards and company accounts. The fraud reportedly targeted businesses throughout Quebec and Ontario, raising significant concerns about the scale of this operation.
The investigation indicates that the network used a garage connected to both Citycar and Coudicar as its main hub. Montreal police have been probing these allegations since June 2021, uncovering multiple car key fob programming devices typically linked to vehicle theft at the garage. The filings suggest that Coudsi coordinated the transport of stolen or fraudulently acquired cars to the port for international shipping, with profits potentially laundered through the rental businesses.
According to the court documents, nearly 200 vehicles may have passed through seven warehouse sites associated with this criminal scheme. At least 70 vehicles have been recovered at the port, raising red flags for investigators. Furthermore, police discovered a significant amount of cash and luxury items at Coudsi’s residence, believed to be purchased with proceeds from the alleged criminal activities.
The attorney general’s office, which has filed civil lawsuits against Coudsi, argues that these properties and goods were either acquired through crime or used in furthering criminal activities. They seek to confiscate Coudsi’s home, the Saint-Michel garage, and any assets linked to these allegations.
As of now, these claims remain unproven in court, and no criminal charges have been filed against Coudsi or any individuals mentioned in the filings. The civil cases are still pending, and the outcome remains uncertain.
This shocking case not only highlights the growing issue of luxury car theft in Canada but also raises questions about the effectiveness of existing security measures in the car rental industry. As this story develops, more details are expected to emerge, and authorities urge anyone with information to come forward.
Stay tuned as we continue to monitor this urgent situation.
