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.