UPDATE - Over 20 Arrested in Gun, Drug Sweep

A total of 37 people are now facing a combined 156 charges in Project Daring, a drug and gun investigation led by the DRPS in partnership with the OPP’s Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau.

In addition to the 23 persons arrested in early morning raids on June 30, others were arrested prior to and afterward, as part of this ongoing investigation. Of the 37 people arrested as part of Project Daring, 31 are from Durham Region. A complete list of those charged is attached.

Total cash seized is $148,373. Street drugs seized, worth an estimated $450,000, included: 19 pounds of marihuana; 2,697 grams of cocaine: 5,000 ecstasy tablets; 20 grams of hashish oil; 50 grams of methamphetamine and eight grams of psilocybin (magic mushrooms). Four small marihuana growing operations with a total of 210 plants were also discovered.

The Durham Regional Police Intelligence Branch would like to thank all units who assisted with this investigation from the OPP’s Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB), which included the Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit, the Asset Forfeiture Unit and the Illegal Gambling Unit.

Vehicles seized on June 30 include a: 2000 Acura TL; 2006 Ford F-150; 2001 Chev Malibu; 2007 GMC Yukon Denali; 2001 Mazda Protégé; 1999 Ford Mustang; 2006 Honda; 2004 Acura 32T; and a 2003 Nissan Altima. Officers also seized a 2004 Acura 32T and a 2003 Volkswagen CTI during investigation.

ORIGINAL MEDIA RELEASE ISSUED JUNE 30th, 2010:

Over 20 Arrested in Gun, Drug Sweep

Over 20 people have been arrested in a gun and drug investigation led by the Durham Regional Police Service and the OPP Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit (PWEU).

Project Daring began two months ago and focused on the sale of drugs and guns on the streets of Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax and Pickering. The scope of the project widened to other nearby locations and the DRPS reached out to other police services for assistance.

Simultaneous arrest warrants were executed at 24 different residences this morning at approximately 6 a.m. with the assistance of Toronto Police, York Regional Police, the OPP, Peel Regional Police and City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service. Eighteen of the warrants were located in Durham Region (four in Pickering, seven in Ajax, four in Whitby and three in Oshawa). Four of the warrants took place in Toronto and two in York Region (Vaughan). No injuries were reported and approximately $500,000 in illegal drugs were seized.

The DRPS Gang and Drug Enforcement Units arrested 23 persons, seized over three kilograms of cocaine, over ten pounds of marihuana, 175 marihuana plants, over $100,000 in Canadian currency, 5,000 ecstasy tablets and quantities of crystal meth and magic mushrooms. Two handguns were seized as part of this investigation prior to today’s search warrants.

Officers also seized nine vehicles as offence-related property, which will be processed under Proceeds of Crime legislation. They have also uncovered and shut down an illegal gaming site.

A complete list of those charged and items seized will be provided in the coming days.

From a media release received from the Durham Regional Police Service