Scammer
Banned
Police have charged 29 people after cracking an alleged criminal ring that operated across Ontario, making its own drugs and using boats to smuggle them into the U.S.
More than 300 officers fanned out across a large swath of the province and raided 34 homes and businesses on Wednesday, seizing drugs, cash, weapons, vehicles and a boat.
"We have an organization that spans all of Ontario, from the west to the east," provincial police Det.-Insp. Ian Grant said Thursday.
"It's not centred in any particular one area but rather uses the various different facets and knowledge of the people from those areas to move the product they have and produce it."
Police arrested 27 people Wednesday in an investigation dubbed Project Needham. Warrants were still out for two others on Thursday. Charges include trafficking, conspiracy to possess and traffic, exporting illegal drugs and participating in a criminal organization.
Members of the group were involved in manufacturing ecstasy, crystal meth and marijuana and taking the drugs by boat into the United States over Lake Ontario and Lake Huron, police allege. The group was also involved in identity theft, police said.
During the raids, officers found three kilograms of cocaine, half a kilogram of the opiate doda, some crystal meth and 56 kilograms of marijuana.
The cash, vehicles, diamonds and jewelry seized were worth about $500,000, said Grant.
Police also found a location that was used to manufacture false IDs and credit cards, he added.
The investigation began in 2009 after police in eastern Ontario identified a group moving drugs by boat into the states.
Earlier this year, police intercepted two loads of drugs headed to the United States. One contained 47 kilograms of ecstasy and the second had 53 kilograms of marijuana.
As a result of the raids, police identified a hash lab operating out of Toronto and a cocaine press lab operating out of Burnaby, B.C., said Grant.
A crystal meth lab was taken down in Caledon, Ont., on Oct. 18 and 22 kilograms of crystal meth was seized at that time, he said.
Ryan Gaffney, 24, of Foxboro, Ont., faced the most charges in the group — eight — including the charge of directing a criminal organization.
Seven people from Toronto are among those arrested. Those from other Ontario communities include six from Belleville, three from Prince Edward County and two from Owen Sound. One person is from New Brunswick.
The raids took place in Quinte West, Belleville, Prince Edward County, Toronto, Peel and York Regions, Owen Sound, Meaford, Paisley and Walkerton.
Police were aided in their investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. drug and border officials.
More than 300 officers fanned out across a large swath of the province and raided 34 homes and businesses on Wednesday, seizing drugs, cash, weapons, vehicles and a boat.
"We have an organization that spans all of Ontario, from the west to the east," provincial police Det.-Insp. Ian Grant said Thursday.
"It's not centred in any particular one area but rather uses the various different facets and knowledge of the people from those areas to move the product they have and produce it."
Police arrested 27 people Wednesday in an investigation dubbed Project Needham. Warrants were still out for two others on Thursday. Charges include trafficking, conspiracy to possess and traffic, exporting illegal drugs and participating in a criminal organization.
Members of the group were involved in manufacturing ecstasy, crystal meth and marijuana and taking the drugs by boat into the United States over Lake Ontario and Lake Huron, police allege. The group was also involved in identity theft, police said.
During the raids, officers found three kilograms of cocaine, half a kilogram of the opiate doda, some crystal meth and 56 kilograms of marijuana.
The cash, vehicles, diamonds and jewelry seized were worth about $500,000, said Grant.
Police also found a location that was used to manufacture false IDs and credit cards, he added.
The investigation began in 2009 after police in eastern Ontario identified a group moving drugs by boat into the states.
Earlier this year, police intercepted two loads of drugs headed to the United States. One contained 47 kilograms of ecstasy and the second had 53 kilograms of marijuana.
As a result of the raids, police identified a hash lab operating out of Toronto and a cocaine press lab operating out of Burnaby, B.C., said Grant.
A crystal meth lab was taken down in Caledon, Ont., on Oct. 18 and 22 kilograms of crystal meth was seized at that time, he said.
Ryan Gaffney, 24, of Foxboro, Ont., faced the most charges in the group — eight — including the charge of directing a criminal organization.
Seven people from Toronto are among those arrested. Those from other Ontario communities include six from Belleville, three from Prince Edward County and two from Owen Sound. One person is from New Brunswick.
The raids took place in Quinte West, Belleville, Prince Edward County, Toronto, Peel and York Regions, Owen Sound, Meaford, Paisley and Walkerton.
Police were aided in their investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. drug and border officials.
