Twenty-two people are charged with more than 400 offences after police broke up a guns and drugs smuggling ring with ties to London and a southwestern Ontario First Nation.
York Regional police launched an investigation into a person believed to be trafficking controlled substances in October 2021.
"As the investigation progressed, a number of suspects based out of Brampton and London were identified as being involved in the distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, and firearms," police said in a statement issued Wednesday.
Investigators from several different police services, U.S. Homeland Security, the Canada Border Services Agency, and Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario joined the investigation dubbed Project Monarch. They began identifying suspects alleged to be importing guns from the United States into Canada. One suspected point of entry for the guns was through the Walpole Island First Nation. Smugglers would only have to cross the St. Clair River to make it to the First Nation from the U.S.
The nearly ten-month investigation culminated on July 28, when police raided 22 homes, two businesses and 19 vehicles located in Brampton, Toronto, and London.
Twenty-seven handguns, 17 prohibited magazines, over 300 rounds of ammunition, nine kilograms of cocaine, 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 20,146 Xanax pills, 28 grams of heroin, and 41.5 pounds of cannabis were seized. Police estimate the street value of the drugs found is more than $1.3 million.
More than $155,240 in Canadian cash, $9,000 in U.S. currency, and five vehicles were also seized as part of the investigation.
Four Londoners, five people from Toronto, 12 from Brampton, and one from Mississauga, ranging in age from 22 to 64, have been charged with a combined more than 400 offences.
The investigation is ongoing, police said. They ask anyone with additional information to call them at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7753 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Seized in #ProjectMonarch: 22 arrests ? 400+ charges ⚖️ 27 guns ? $1.3 million in illegal drugs ? $160,000+ in cash ?
If you do the math, it adds up to safer communities across the province.More details: https://t.co/FMbabcMPjf pic.twitter.com/PM2k4fFhrL
— York Regional Police (@YRP) August 10, 2022