AURORA: Investigators working in the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit have arrested 19 men for numerous offences related to criminal activity of several cells of a criminal organization, the ‘Ndrangheta. This enforcement action, along with more than 25 search warrants being executed, culminated in the early hours of June 2 with approximately 260 officers from police services in and surrounding the Greater Toronto Area.
In May 2013, CFSEU GTA commenced an investigation to target the highest levels of the ‘Ndrangheta criminal organization operating within the GTA. Project OPHOENIX investigation was a multi-jurisdictional and international investigation.
Police said the ‘Ndrangheta is a specific confederation of mafia families that have their origin in southern Calabria, Italy. This organization has spread to various international regions including Canada. In Canada, police said they have seen several dozen members grouped into various mafia “families” that are often insular and secretive. Several of these criminal cells operate in the GTA and were the focus of this investigation. Police have found that these ‘Ndrangheta organized crime groups combined their efforts regionally, nationally and internationally in order to elude enforcement, expand territorial influence and secure sources of income.
Police said that the lengthy, challenging, two-year, joint forces investigation revealed several specific organized crime cells that were involved with such criminal offences as drug importation and trafficking, firearms trafficking, extortion, possession of the proceeds of crime, laundering the proceeds of crime and organized crime-related offences.
The specific organizations that GTA CFSEU identified and subsequently investigated were led by Pino Ursino and Carmine Verduci, who is now dead. In addition, Diego Serrano, was identified as a significant facilitator for these organizations as were others that have been charged, police said.
The police have in their possession as a result of this investigation three firearms, approximately 8.5 kilograms of what is believed to be cocaine, seven kilograms of marijuana and cash.
The RCMP’s Financial Crime, Integrated Proceeds of Crime Unit seized five vehicles as offence-related property.
“The presence of such organized crime groups brings an element of criminality to our communities that is unacceptable,” said Superintendent Keith Finn, Officer in Charge of the Greater Toronto Area CFSEU. “Drug importation, drug and firearm trafficking, extortion and the associated violence that accompanies these illegal activities puts our citizens at risk. The members of the CFSEU are committed to ensuring people committing these crimes are held responsible.”
The CFSEU, a multi-jurisdictional operation which includes the RCMP, the Ontario Provincial Police, York Regional Police, the Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police and the Durham Regional Police Service, is specifically tasked with the mandate to expose, investigate, prosecute and dismantle organized criminal enterprises.
The following police services and agencies provided assistance to Project OPHOENIX: Hamilton Police Service, Brantford Police Service, Niagara Regional Police Service, Waterloo Regional Police, Guelph Police Service, Barrie Police Service, the Canada Border Services Agency and FINTRAC.
The following were arrested and charged as a result of this enforcement action:
- Giuseppe Ursino, 62, of Bradford, is charged with trafficking in cocaine, possession of proceeds of crime (x 2), commission of an offence for a criminal organization (x 5), conspiracy to import cocaine (x3), conspiracy to commit extortion, counselling an offence (not committed) and instructing to commit an offence for a criminal organization.
- Diego Serrano, 66, of Vaughan, is charged with trafficking in cocaine (x5), possession of proceeds of crime (x6), traffic cocaine by offer, traffic firearms by offer.
- Marco Maone, 32, of Toronto, is charged with trafficking in cocaine (x5), possession of proceeds of crime (x5), possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine), conspiracy to traffic cocaine, possession of a controlled substance (heroin), possession of a controlled substance (MDMA) and possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine).
- Cosmin Dracea, 38, of Toronto, is charged with trafficking in cocaine, possession of proceeds of crime (x2), commission of an offence for a criminal organization (x4) and conspiracy to import cocaine (x3).
- Jorden Kolman, 50, of Richmond Hill, is charged with conspiracy to commit extortion, counselling an offence (not committed) and commission of an offence for a criminal organization.
- Zarko Djokic, 30, of Toronto, is charged with trafficking in cocaine and possession of proceeds of crime.
- Adnan Mursel, 31, of Toronto, is charged with trafficking in cocaine, possession of proceeds of crime and possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine) (x2).
- Nicodemo Barbaro, 58, of North York, Toronto, is charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of a firearm knowing that the serial number had been defaced.
- Giuseppe Scordo, 45, of Vaughan, is charged with trafficking in cocaine and possession of proceeds of crime.
- Anthony Persaud, 26, of Toronto, is charged with trafficking in cocaine and possession of proceeds of crime.
- Glenn Forde, 47, of Aurora, is charged with trafficking in cocaine and possession of proceeds of crime.
- Antonio Agresta, 43, of Hamilton, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine).
- Adam D’Andrea, 58, of Hamilton, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine) and careless storage of a firearm and ammunition.
- Carlo Fazzari, 41, of Hamilton, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine).
- Giuseppe Nesci, 58, of Woodbridge, is charged with trafficking in marijuana (x2) and possession of the proceeds of crime (x3).
- Demetre Papadopoulos, 63, of Aurora, is charged with trafficking in marijuana, possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime.
- Richard Avenes, 44, of North York, Toronto, is charged with conspiracy to import cocaine (x2), possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine), possession for the purpose of trafficking (OxyContin), commission of an offence for a criminal organization and fail to comply with a recognizance (x2).
- Antonio Mediati, 66, of Oakville, is charged with trafficking in cocaine (x2) and possession of proceeds of crime (x2).
- Syedmeysam Mir, 35, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine) and possession for the purpose of trafficking (OxyContin).