On the same day the federal government announced the allocation of millions of dollars to combat car theft, the police said they dealt a strong blow "to the stolen car export network in Montreal."

The illegal operation targeted luxury vehicles and small trucks stolen from several locations - such as car rental companies, public parking lots including those at Montreal Trudeau Airport - and were later scheduled to be resold abroad, according to Montreal police.

About 60 officers from multiple police forces participated in the investigation, which ended with nine men aged between 27 and 64 handcuffed on Wednesday morning after several searches were conducted in Montreal and other sites north of the city in the Terrebonne, Mascouche area including Lanaudière, Sainte-Geneviève-de-Berthier, Saint-Félix-de-Valois, Saint-Esprit, Saint-Lin-Laurentides, and Joliette.

The suspects are expected to appear in court on Wednesday and Thursday facing several charges, including car theft, receiving stolen property, conspiracy, breaking and entering, trafficking in property obtained by crime, and possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition, police said.

The charges relate to 55 car thefts, including 37 thefts on the Island of Montreal. Among those stolen were 21 cars worth $1.7 million. One-third of the vehicles were stolen at the airport.

The targeted vehicles also include several models: Ford, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Expedition, Dodge RAM, Ford F150, Dodge Durango.

Investigators also seized two loaded pistols, more than $40,000 in cash, tools used for vehicle theft, cocaine, and marijuana.