1 arrested, 2 wanted in Toronto and Ottawa ‘Project Moses’ drug investigation
Posted February 18, 2019 8:30 am.
Last Updated February 18, 2019 7:13 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Toronto police paired up with Ottawa police for an investigation into three drug dealers, arresting a 42-year-old Ottawa man, while two others are still wanted.
The police on Monday revealed an arsenal of weapons seized, including six handguns, 1,016 rounds of ammunition and an assault rifle.
Officers said they seized 1 kilogram of fentanyl, 2.5 kilograms of cocaine, 500 grams of heroin and 2 kilograms of marijuana, as well as $60,000 in cash in the raids that took place last Thursday and Friday. The Toronto police drug squad superintendent Steve Watts said the street value of the drugs was equal to $700,000.
The investigation was dubbed “Project Moses” and most of the raids happened in the GTA, with officers from both Toronto and Ottawa police participating in the investigation.
Watts said the investigation started in October 2018 and initially focused on one person.
Police raided homes, vehicles and storage lockers where they found the illegal items. They located some of them in so-called “traps” within the cars and furniture where the suspects allegedly hid the drugs and guns. The vehicles have been impounded.
“It’s easy access to literally turn (a situation) into a shooting, a homicide,” Watts said. “You have very quick access to your weaponry and that is really the key.”
Police have issued Canada-wide warrants for Vincent Yun-Hao Huang, 34, and Daniel Kam-Wah Siu, 33, both of Toronto, who officers allege are part of an organized crime group that was selling the drugs.
Watts said the police raids put a “significant dent” in the group’s operations.
“To lose this much product and to lose this many firearms is very significant,” he said.
Police said Nicholas Ortega faces more than 30 firearms- and drug-trafficking-related charges
Watch the video of the conference below starting at around the 13:00 mark.
