Two Romanian men are wanted by Durham Regional Police for allegedly using fraudulent documents to purchase BMW SUVs from a Pickering dealership and shipping the luxury vehicles out of Canada. The incidents, which occurred in December 2025, are believed to be connected to an organized group involved in criminal tourism.
First Incident: December 18, 2025
On December 18, 2025, a suspect allegedly visited a Pickering dealership and purchased a 2022 BMW X5 SUV valued at $50,000 using fraudulent documents. The vehicle was exported from Canada before police were notified. Investigators identified a suspect, but he had already been removed from Canada on February 8. An arrest warrant has been issued for Marian Donoiu, 48, of Romania.
Second Incident: December 30, 2025
In a similar scheme on December 30, 2025, a suspect used fraudulent documents to buy a 2021 BMW X5 SUV worth $55,000 from the same dealership. Again, the vehicle was shipped out of Canada before police could intervene. The suspect was removed from Canada on May 9. An arrest warrant has been issued for Alin Gabriel Nicolae, 36, of Romania.
Links to Organized Crime Tourism
Police believe these scams are part of a larger organized group involved in criminal tourism. Criminal tourism involves individuals entering Canada legally on tourist visas with the intent to commit crimes, then fleeing or overstaying their visas. This emerging threat has impacted communities across Canada.
Broader Investigation: Project Jetsetter
Just last week, Durham Regional Police announced the arrest of 46 people on 1,442 charges in Project Jetsetter, a major investigation into crime tourists allegedly connected to a Romanian organized crime network. Those accused were behind over 200 incidents causing more than $2.6 million in losses in Durham Region alone. Many suspects remain at large.
Police stated, "These criminal tourists are using sophisticated methods to avoid detection, including moving between regions, using false identities, and exploiting legal loopholes." The crimes have severe impacts on victims, including financial losses, emotional stress, and a sense of violation.
Charges and How to Help
Donoiu and Nicolae are each wanted for fraud over $5,000, making false statements to procure property, possession of property obtained by crime for trafficking, and disposing of property to avoid creditors. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Financial Crimes Unit at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 5283, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
