Police raid up to 70 locations across Canada
Posted December 13, 2011 5:30 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – Dozens of heavily-armed police officers conducted a series of early-morning raids in various locations across Canada, including the GTA, Tuesday.
Police executed 67 search warrants simultaneously in Toronto, London, Hamilton, Durham Region, York Region, Peel Region, Windsor, Ottawa, Calgary, Alta., and Surrey, B.C.
The Toronto police Gun & Gang Task Force, along with the London Police Service, Waterloo Regional Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police took part in “Project Marvel.”
Toronto police chief Bill Blair said the seven month investigation began in May with a number of violent crimes on the north and south side of Finch near Jane Street.
The gangs involved two rival gangs, the YBK and the G-siders.
“It appeared to be rivalry between gang members in this part of the city. Over the course of the investigation it quickly lead us into other jurisdictions,” said Blair.
That lead police to cities across Ontario and then to parts of western Canada.
More than 900 police officers, including nearly 400 tactical officers, were involved in executing the raids.
Officers came from the following services:
- Toronto Police Service
- Ontario Provincial Police
- London Police Service
- Waterloo Regional Police Service
- Windsor Police Service
- Ottawa Police Service
- Canada Border Services Agency
- Peel Regional Police
- Hamilton Police Service
- Durham Regional Police Service
- York Regional Police
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Calgary Police Service
- South Simcoe Police Service
- Barrie Police Service
- Kingston Police Force
- Guelph Police Service
- Halton Regional Police Service
- Niagara Regional Police Service
- Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service
- Stratford Police Service
- Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
The investigation has also spread to Renfrew, Ont., Saskatoon, Sask., Edmonton and Fort McMurray in Alberta, and Vancouver, B.C.
When the raids were over, 60 people had been arrested, including ten young offenders.
Over 300 charges are expected to be laid relating to attempted murder, firearms and drug trafficking.
Chief Blair said they have made a significant dent in organized crime.
“Only time will tell whether or not it has the entire desired impact, but these arrests should have a significant impact on curtailing the activities of these gangs. It not only dismantles the hierarchies of the gang itself, but it also is a very significant disruption of their criminal activity,” he said.
Blair added that the takedown was a success.
“I want to assure the communities where these arrests and investigations have taken place that we believe, people that we allege to be quite dangerous, have been now incarcerated and are not going to be able to inflict harm on that community.”
An apartment building at 2304 Weston Rd., near Lawrence Avenue, was one of the locations raided. ETF officers, armed with rifles and a steel battering ram, busted into a 10th-floor apartment. One male was taken out in handcuffs.
Police say they plan to make more arrest in the coming days and that the investigation is ongoing.
