'Criminal tourism' is a term used by law enforcement to describe individuals who travel from one country to another primarily to commit crimes before returning home. Authorities say these offenses often include organized thefts, burglaries, fraud, and other crimes. Since 2019, Durham police have arrested 46 suspects through 'Project Jetsetter', an initiative aimed at tackling alleged criminal tourism in the region. According to investigators, the majority of those arrested are from a single European nation. Police say the operation focuses on identifying organized groups that travel internationally to carry out crimes and then quickly leave the country. The initiative remains part of broader efforts to combat transnational criminal activity and protect local communities.
According to a CBC News report, Durham Regional Police revealed the outcomes of Project Jetsetter, reporting that the initiative has resulted in 46 arrests and nearly 1,500 criminal charges across Durham Region and the Greater Toronto Area since 2019. Investigators say the operation has uncovered more than 200 criminal incidents connected to an alleged 'criminal tourism' network, which authorities describe as individuals entering Canada legally and then engaging in profit-motivated crimes before returning overseas. Police estimate these activities have caused approximately $2.6 million in losses within Durham Region.
