AURORA, Ont. -- York Regional Police say they have dismantled an organized crime group allegedly involved in extortion, fraud, firearms offences and drug trafficking in the Greater Toronto Area.

They say numerous warrants were executed across the GTA on Tuesday, leading to the arrests of five alleged members of an organized crime group police say was a "threat to public safety."

Police say that in April 2013 two men were murdered in Italy, prompting a 30-year-old in Bolton to take over what investigators call the Ranieri group.

An investigation with York Region police, provincial police and the RCMP began soon after, and they've now made arrests and issued warrants for alleged leader Daniel Ranieri and 41-year-old Lucas Day, of Toronto.

Three Toronto men and one each from Milton and Vaughan are facing charges including trafficking cocaine, breach of parole, extortion and attempt to obstruct justice.

Police say Ranieri and Day remain at large and are considered armed and dangerous.