ONTARIO’S Peel Regional Police announced on Saturday that after a lengthy investigation, their officers from the 21 Division have dismantled a crime group responsible for violent criminal acts, tractor-trailer cargo thefts and other criminality in numerous jurisdictions throughout southern Ontario.
In early 2022, investigators began a probe focusing on an emerging organized criminal group operating in Peel Region and the Greater Toronto Area. A special project team was formed supported through funding from the Government of Ontario – Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario (CISO).
The suspects used violence, intimidation and financial reward to recruit members and commit criminal acts throughout southern Ontario. This group is believed to be responsible for multiple weapons offences, cargo thefts and drug trafficking.
As a result of the investigation, 24 individuals with suspected affiliation to the group have been arrested and 54 charges laid, including:
- Utter threats to cause death
- Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm
- Knowledge of unauthorized possession of firearm
- Careless storage of firearm
- Weapons dangerous
- Possession of property obtained by crime
- Theft over $5,000
- Theft of mail
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking in a controlled substance
- Possession of a controlled substance
- Fraud related charges
- Breaches of various court orders.
Search warrants to 14 premises were conducted at addresses associated to the suspects, leading to the location and seizure of:
- Four firearms including a sawed off shotgun
- Recovered ten stolen vehicles valued at over $1.1 million
- Recovered stolen heating and air-conditioning units valued in excess of $460,000
- Illegal opioids valued in excess of $25,000
Investigators thanked the Criminal Intelligence Services of Ontario, Canada Border Services Agency, the RCMP, the Ontario Provincial Police, Toronto Police Service, York Regional Police Service, Halton Regional Police Service, Peterborough Police Service and Vancouver Police Service.
Anyone with any information about this investigation is asked to call investigators from the 21 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau at 905-453-2121, extension 2133. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by visiting www.