Toronto police drug squad Inspector Don Belanger discusses the bust with media on July 10, 2019. Photo courtesy of Toronto Police Service.Toronto police drug squad Inspector Don Belanger discusses the bust with media on July 10, 2019. Photo courtesy of Toronto Police Service.
Windsor

Third suspect arrested in Project Oz initiative

A wide-reaching probe of drug trafficking between Windsor and Toronto has resulted in another arrest.

Windsor police said Sebastiano Profetto was arrested Tuesday afternoon on Rhodes Drive near Jefferson Boulevard. He will face a number of drug and firearm-related charges, but police did not provide specifics on those charges.

Profetto is the third person arrested in connection with the Project Oz investigation, led by Toronto police, which looked into the trafficking of illegal drugs along the Toronto-Windsor corridor. He had been identified by police as an outstanding person of interest when the investigation was made public on July 10.

Two people from Windsor have already been charged as part of this initiative. Minja Ljumovic, a 36-year-old man, is charged with trafficking cocaine and possession of cocaine with the intent to sell. Danielle Hess, a 29-year-old woman, is facing 21 charges including unauthorized possession and careless storage of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of multiple narcotics with the purpose of trafficking.

Officers from the WPS Drugs and Guns Unit (DIGS) searched a home and vehicle on Crawford Avenue and University Avenue West on June 27 and seized quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine and various illicit pills, along with two firearms.

Project Oz is a major investigation that so far has included the seizure of assorted drugs, plus at least $533,000 in Canadian cash. This was the result of over a dozen search warrants executed on homes in Toronto, Brampton and Windsor. Six vehicles were also searched. Secret compartments were discovered in three of the vehicles and two of the homes. The total street value of the drugs has not been disclosed.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information who has not already spoken with police is asked to call Windsor police at (519) 255-6700 or Toronto police at (416) 808-2222.

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