Clandestine drug labs, and the drugs they manufacture, have a toxic and destructive impact on the lives of people, their communities, and theenvironment, said Deputy OPP Commissioner Scott Tod in a media release. Contraband seized during drug investigation Project Icaraus are displayed at Halton Regional Police headquarters on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. tap here to see other videos from our team. British Columbias only program that trains eye surgeons is at risk of losing its ability to prepare more specialist doctors, CTV News has learned. Grieving relatives of plane crash victims in Nepal were growing impatient as they waited for authorities to conduct autopsies and hand the bodies for cremation. Thunder Bay's embattled police chief has resigned ahead of a hearing scheduled next month concerning allegations of misconduct. Singh addressed his New Democrat caucus today in a speech that heavily focused on the struggles faced by the working class. WATCH: Police net $5 million worth of drugs in 'Ontario's largest ever' bust. We encountered an issue signing you up. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Police say they . The two suspects still outstanding were identified as Scott McManus, 38 and William Nhan, 23, both of Toronto. Rain fills the rest of the week before changing to snow into the weekend. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. As you are well aware, fentanyl is one of those examples during this opioid crisis that we face today and that contributes to filling our morgues every day.. Toronto Police announced the largest single-day seizure of drugs in the force's history on Thursday, thanks to a pair of busts combining for a staggering 671 kilograms of drugs with a value of $58 million. The social cost that this amount of drugs inflicts on society is immeasurable.. The cocaine seizure resulted in the arrests of three Toronto-area men in May and July. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Other items seized include illicit opioids, more than $100,000 in currency, jewelry and motor vehicles.. Toronto Drug Squad Acting Insp. Three men have been arrested, accused of importing 1,062 kilograms of pure cocaine. "They are high-level players in importation and selling tons of cocaine.". Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. Man charged with second-degree murder in suspicious death of man in East Walton, N.S. Mann explains that "investigators identified two addresses here in Toronto are being used as stash houses for these illicit drugs," and following an investigation and search warrants, executed searches on Oct. 5. A wall of cocaine was put on display as the largest drug seizure in Ontario history was announced at Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) headquarters on Monday. A new city of Ottawa report says the closure of Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill has "not caused a total failure of the transportation network" in the downtown core. ", "The drugs that were seized in the stash houses were destined for our neighbourhoods, [and] intercepting the flow of these drugs have prevented possible overdoses, which we all know is an epidemic facing our communities as we speak. 1.San Francisco is home to the crown of the world largest ever recorded drugs bust. Air Canada lost a mans custom-built wheelchair, offers $300 voucher and broken replacement, Drinking too much? At least 32 cars have been stolen In Toronto each day so far in 2023, a surprising figure spurring calls for car manufacturers to catch up in a digital arms race with tech-savvy thieves. Colombia continues to be the source of the cocaine seized in U.S. territory, with 92 percent of cocaine samples confiscated. Cops boasted aboutthe feat of policing in a live-streamed Thursday morning press conference, officers outlining details of the busts in a room that appeared filled to the brim with bags of seized substances like a display of illicit chemical trophies. Beach Drive is now open to the public in Wasaga Beach after the popular road was closed for several years. The cocaine bust appears to be the largest since police seized a plane carrying around 3,000 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $1 billion, in 1992 following an air chase in Quebec. Buffone and Kompon were each convicted of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking; trafficking cocaine; conspiracy to import and possess cocaine for the purpose of trafficking; and, committing offences in association with a criminal organization. This bust happened back in November of 2020. READ MORE: TORONTO Police in Ontario have arrested five men and seized $5 million worth of illegal drugs in what officials are calling the largest clandestine lab, methamphetamine and chemical seizure in the provinces history. Here are the locations, Mexico bans smoking in all public places, including beaches and hotels, Used vehicle prices are dropping. Fox News Flash top headlines for July 19 are here. Republication or distribution of this content is The largest drug bust in Peel Police history reveals a shocking load of illicit narcotics, enough to kill many, many people. With an estimated street value. Thunder Bay's embattled police chief has resigned ahead of a hearing scheduled next month concerning allegations of misconduct. Investigators allege the traps were built and installed by a 43-year-old British Columbia man who is one of those charged as part of the probe. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Officials say this led to the dismantling of three drug labs in the GTA which were used to mix, press and mass produce methamphetamine. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. Nova Scotia has announced extra resources to alleviate the pressure on strained emergency departments at a cost of 'tens of millions' of dollars, although an exact figure wasnt provided. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Somehow there were no arrests but there were some persons of interest investigated. Our members continue to demonstrate that if you choose to participated in organized crime in our region threatening the safety of our community, we will aggressively target you and arrest you.. Please try again. Cosmin Dzsurdzsa. Here are three of Ontarios biggest drug busts. Chief James Ramerheld a news conference about the bust Tuesdayalongside representatives from the Ontario Provincial Police, York Regional Police and the Canada Border Services Agency. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Brian Aguiar, 32, of Burlington, is charged with four counts of possession of a controlled substance for trafficking, conspiracy of commit an indictable offence, two counts of unauthorized possession of a weapon, two counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, two counts of knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm, two counts of breach of firearm registration, possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition and possession of a weapon obtained by crime. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Read more about cookies here. ", Join the conversation At the time, Det. Members of the Asian Organized Crime Task Force (AOCTF) were part of a lengthy investigation intowhat police say was a syndicate involving large-scale production of methamphetamine.. Steve Watts said the trap compartments were extremely difficult to detect and penetrate. He had earlier received fines for narcotics offences and possession of stolen property decades ago. Use of this Website assumes acceptance of Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy, Stay up to date on the latest, breaking news, Police tape is shown in Toronto on Tuesday, May 2, 2017. The court of appeal noted that the sentencing judge failed to take into consideration that Buffone and Kompon committed the offences in association with a criminal organization. Police say that the 12 suspects taken into custody are facing a combined 44 charges. An 11-month-long investigation resulted in the seizure of over $25 . According to Drug Squad Unit Commander Mandeep Mann, the haul shatters the previous record by more than double. Some of the stone blocks were hollowed out and filled with the drug, before being resealed with concrete, making it very hard to detect. rights reserved. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Police identified the five men who were arrested as Jimmy Sut Jhing Ng, 55, of Campbellford, Sui Yuan Zhao, 39, of Campbellford, Kok King Chao, 49, of Aurora, Joey Sui Hung Mo, 45, of Aurora and Chun Kit Wong, 28, of Markham. Project Sindicato targeted the Figliomeni crime family which has links to Italys notorious Ndrangehta Mafia clan in Italy, York Regional Police announced Thursday. 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. Through hard work and collaboration our dedicated officers turned a small investigation of a single suspect into a significant project. Yup, it was hidden in plain sight in a cornfield. A wall of cocaine was put on display as the largest drug seizure in Ontario history was announced at Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) headquarters on Monday. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says it feels like Justin Trudeau's Liberal government is waging war against workers. With the amount of pure cocaine seized during Project HOPE, weve stopped many criminals from causing more harm to our communities while removing a quarter of a billion dollars from the criminal economy, OPP Commissioner J.V.N. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. They are eligible to apply for parole after serving one-third of their sentences. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. What we mean by that, this is 97 per cent pure cocaine. The cocaine seized alone would be enough to kill 329,679 150lb adults, and that's not even factoring in the added body count 151 kilos of meth could produce. Gutting IRS Will Help Wealthy Avoid More Taxes | Opinion, Eliminating Income Tax Means More Money for Americans | Opinion, The US Is Being Flooded with Illegal Drugs by China, German Police Seize Drugs Shaped Like Donald Trump, People Are Getting High on Drugs for the Eclipse, Scientists Discover How Magic Mushrooms Make Psilocybin. The Ontario Providential Police showed off the largest ever drug seizure of its nearly 110 year history. Icarus has removed guns and criminals from the street of not just Halton, but the entire GTA, said Halton Deputy Chief Jeff Hill. A Mafia bust believed to be the biggest in the Canadian province of Ontario has resulted in 15 arrests and the seizure of homes and sports cars worth $33 million. Epp is a former teacher at Oakridge Secondary School in London, Ont. Ontario police say they've made the largest fentanyl bust the in the province's history. "These are well-placed individuals who had access to all of this cocaine," said Barnum. Prices for food items purchased from stores in Canada decreased slightly month to month in December, Statistics Canada says, but consumers continue to pay more for fresh vegetables, dairy products, and meats. READ MORE:18 charged, $3M in drugs and fentanyl seized in Ontario, Quebec organized crime probe, VIDEO:3 GTA men charged in massive cocaine bust by OPP. Winnipeg has seen a sharp increase in the number of people admitted to the hospital with frostbite in the last year. Court heard that a massive amount of cocaine was smuggled by truck from the U.S. to the Niagara Region and by ship through the Port of Montreal. Clandestine drug labs can be found anywhere both urban and rural areas are not immune, said OPP Chief Superintendent Mike Armstrong. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Our members continue to demonstrate that if you choose to participate in organized crime in our region threatening the safety of our community, we will aggressively target you and arrest you.. Jile Cai, 34, of Etobicoke, has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. August 18, 2021, 8:38 pm. Thanh Ma, 31, of Newmarket, have been charged with possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution. I cant really say the source of the cocaine, to where it was actually produced, Barnum said. A group representing English-speaking Quebecers is asking for the province to provide more funding to 'significantly underfunded' community groups serving anglophones. Three men have been arrested on suspicion of importing the drug, which was hidden inside hollowed-out garden stones and brought to Canada via sea from Argentina, Ontario Provincial Police said Monday, the National Post reported. Sgt. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings. Anthony Mason, 39, of Hamilton, is charged with possessing a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking,, two counts of trafficking a controlled substance and possession of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. Grieving relatives of plane crash victims in Nepal were growing impatient as they waited for authorities to conduct autopsies and hand the bodies for cremation. Police estimate the street value of the seized drugs ismore than $61 million. Ramer told reporters the investigation started in November of last year, and that thequantities of drugs seized are "frankly staggering.". By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The 1,062 kilograms (2341 lbs) of cocaine is said to be around 97 percent pure and is worth an estimated $60 million. Members of AOCTF include police forces from the Toronto Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), York Regional Police, Peel Regional Police, and the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA). With the biggest drug bust in Ontario history$250-millionthe province's cocaine supply may have just gotten more dangerous. A group representing English-speaking Quebecers is asking for the province to provide more funding to 'significantly underfunded' community groups serving anglophones. Trevor Harwood, 42, of Etobicoke, has been charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the possession of trafficking and possession of property over $5,000 obtained by crime. The Toronto Police Service has recovered the largest amount of illicit drugs in the force's history, seizing an estimated street value of almost $60 million. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. It was strategic, it was intelligence-led and it was focused on preventing community harm and preserving community wellbeing.. To order Police net $5 million worth of drugs in Ontarios largest ever bust. He commended all investigators involved in the operation, which began in Nov. 2020. Market data provided by Factset. Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime is set to face Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina in the third round of the Australian Open. Police handout Ontario Provincial Police say officers have made the largest fentanyl bust in the. A 41-year-old London woman, who cant be named because of a publication ban, has been charged with careless use of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of a firearm knowing it is prohibited, possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition, possession of a controlled substance for trafficking and unlawfully produce substance. Watts said the vehicles and cash will be taken by the Ontario government through civil forfeiture proceedings, while the drugs will be destroyed. Defence Minister Anita Anand used a visit to Ukraine on Wednesday to announce that Canada is sending another 200 armoured vehicles to help with the embattled country's defence against Russian invaders. From our newsroom to your inbox at noon, the latest headlines, stories, opinion and photos from the Toronto Sun. Toronto police reveal details of their largest-ever international drug bust | CBC News Loaded. Police started that three people were involved with importing the drug from Argentina to the Port of Montreal for distribution in Ontario. A 43-year-old man from British Columbia who used that moniker turned himself in to police in Toronto last week, investigators say, and has been charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and participating in a criminal organization. Police say fentanyl, an opioid about 100 times more toxic than morphine, has been linked to nearly 580 deaths in the province in the past five years. Calgary paramedics rushed a pedestrian to hospital on Wednesday after he was hit by a vehicle in the community of Montgomery. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert bathroom blowout. The various different police forces in Ontario have been doing a lot in recent years to fight against drug trafficking and it has resulted in some of the biggest drug busts in the history of the country. 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Police released details of "Project Zucaritas" on Wednesday, saying a total of 383 kilograms of cocaine, methamphetamine, and ketamine had been seized. Man charged with second-degree murder in suspicious death of man in East Walton, N.S. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. The bust was a part of a police investigation nicknamed Project Hope. Lama Nicolas reports. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. This totalled about $18 million dollars in street value. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The man accused in the largest single-day drug and gun bust in Toronto's history is speaking out, saying on the stand at his trial that he's a not a major drug dealer, but a "bio-energy. Once broken up and cut with cutting agents, or fillers, such as fentanyl, the 1,062 kilograms would yield between 2,122 and 3,183 of product for sale on the streets, Barnum said. St. Thomas police . Rain fills the rest of the week before changing to snow into the weekend. Market data provided by Factset. They allegedly seized 444 kilograms of cocaine, 157 kilograms of crystal meth, 427 kilograms of marijuana and 300 oxycodone pills. Buffone operated a warehouse that re-marketed damaged goods. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. A 21-year-old woman who recently worked at a school in Hythe, Alta., has been charged with several sex offences and police believe there may be more victims yet to come forward. -. We need to protect the community from drug dealers and hold those who traffic accountable, he said. The distribution and sales cycle would see this cocaine cut many times for street level dealers with untold, dangerous and potentially lethal additives for higher resale value, Hawkes said. This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. Deputy Chief Pauline Gray told the . Buffone was originally sentenced on Sept. 28, 2017, by Justice James A. Ramsay of the Superior Court of Justice to 22 years imprisonment, minus a year for pre-sentence custody and restrictive bail, while Kompon was originally sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, minus 18 months credit for pre-sentence custody and restrictive bail. With an estimated street value of $250 million, police said the investigation nicknamed Project Hope netted 1,062 kilograms of pure cocaine. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Other items seized include illicit opioids, more than $100,000 in currency, jewelry and motor vehicles. TORONTO -- A dozen people are facing charges after a months-long investigation that culminated in the biggest drug seizure in the history of the Halton Regional Police Service. This is how to protect yourself, $60-million Lotto Max jackpot won in same Ontario city for 2nd time in 2 months, Bridget Carleton, Lynx to play Chicago Sky in WNBA pre-season game in May in Toronto, Toronto-bound QEW reopens west of St. Catharines after truck plows into road crew, Want to visit Dunder Mifflin? Kompon had an earlier conviction for drinking and driving. Collectively, 182 charges have been laid with 20 people arrestedin connection with the investigation, investigators say. Police said the pure cocaine seized would be broken up and mixed with cutting agents or fillers such as fentanyl which has contributed to the deadly opioid crisis in Canada. A wall of cocaine appears at a press conference in Orillia, Ont., on Aug. 28, 2018. The payments, intended to help offset inflationary pressures, will be received in monthly instalments of $100. They stood at the head of the sophisticated criminal organization which: had established trade routes and three large, remote commercial warehouses; used secure lines of communication and a fleet of company vehicles; employed meticulous record-keeping; and, drew from a reservoir of shell companies, false identities, and fraudulent documents to lend legitimacy to their operations, the appeals court noted. comments, Someone near Toronto just won a whopping $60 million and might not know it yet, Giant machine named after David Bowie is about to break all kinds of Toronto records, 171 'plausible burials' found at Ontario residential school site in sad first for the province, Scanning your PRESTO card reveals a neat trick for Toronto commuters, People are slipping all over Toronto as freezing rain slicks roads and sidewalks with ice, One of Toronto's next transit stations just got a step closer to reality, People in Ontario are seriously worried after Doug Ford's latest announcement, Government of Canada workers threaten to strike over return to office mandate. Mexican nationals Raul Bulhosen, of Toronto, and Borja Vilalta-Castellanos, of Mississauga, were earlier sentenced to prison terms of 18 and 17 years for their roles in the operation. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. This first one on the list is actually also the most recent. While the City of Montreal continues its snow-clearing operations from last Fridays storm, there is even more snow in the forecast. A single-vehicle crash has closed a section of a main artery into Halifax during the morning commute Wednesday. London police are asking for the public's help locating 48-year-old Dustin Epp. John Byard, 40, of Mississauga, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance for trafficking and possession of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. Legal Statement. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The OPP Commissioner Vince Hawkes said, "This is a massive seizure, bigger than I've ever seen in my 33 years of policing.". Canada Seizes 1,000 Kilograms of Cocaine Worth $250 Million in One of Biggest-Ever Drug Busts.
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biggest drug bust in ontario