20 people charged, $61M worth of drugs seized in largest bust in Toronto police history
Twenty people are facing rafts of charges each and more than $61 million worth of cocaine, crystal meth and marijuana was seized in what Toronto police are calling the largest drug seizure in the service’s history.
“Project Brisa” allegedly found a group of smugglers using trap door compartments in tractor-trailers to move up to 100 kilograms of drugs at a time from Mexico and California to several cities in Ontario.
The conspirators allegedly moved large quantities of drugs into Canada via Ontario border crossings.
Drugs seized as part of 'Project Brisa' are shown in a TPS handout image.
Toronto Drug Squad Acting Insp. Steve Watts said the trap compartments were extremely difficult to detect and penetrate.
“They were sophisticated to the point that X-ray (scanning) was not able to penetrate those traps,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
Investigators allege the traps were built and installed by a 43-year-old British Columbia man who is one of those charged as part of the probe.
In May, police executed 35 search warrants in Toronto and the GTA, Sarnia, London, Guelph, Kitchener, Montreal, Halifax, Surrey, Calgary and Winnipeg.
They allegedly seized 444 kilograms of cocaine, 157 kilograms of crystal meth, 427 kilograms of marijuana and 300 oxycodone pills.
They also found $966,000 in cash and seized five tractor-trailers and several other vehicles including a Mercedes G-Wagon.
Investigators also seized one Glock handgun.Vehicles seized as part of 'Project Brisa' are shown in a TPS handout image.
Watts said the vehicles and cash will be taken by the Ontario government through civil forfeiture proceedings, while the drugs will be destroyed.
Asked about the significant amount of marijuana located in the bust, Watts said there is still a profitable underground market open in Canada despite legalization.
“Until you provide a price point that is significantly lower, the illicit market does exist, and that’s a reality.”
Acting Toronto Police Chief Jim Ramer said the bust would significantly impact the supply of illicit drugs in the GTA.
“The social cost that this amount of drugs inflicts on society is immeasurable.”
He commended all investigators involved in the operation, which began in Nov. 2020.
“It was strategic, it was intelligence-led and it was focused on preventing community harm and preserving community wellbeing.”
Several of the tractor trailers and other vehicles were modified with hydraulic-powered trap door compartments to move drugs.
Twenty people are now in custody, and two others are still on the lam.
The majority of those charged reside in Kitchener, Toronto and the GTA.
They are facing a combined total of 182 criminal code charges.
Scott McManus and William Nhan are shown in a composite image released by Toronto police.
The two suspects still outstanding were identified as Scott McManus, 38 and William Nhan, 23, both of Toronto.
Anyone with information about either suspect is asked to call investigators.
Toronto police say numerous other police services including the RCMP, OPP, York Regional Police, Montreal police and a number of provincial and federal agencies assisted them in the investigation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
BREAKING 14 suspects arrested in grandparent scam targeting seniors across Canada: Ontario police
An interprovincial investigation into an 'emergency grandparents scam' that targeted seniors across Canada has led to the arrest of 14 suspects, Ontario Provincial Police say.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
B.C. child killer's lawyer walks out of review hearing
The lawyer representing child-killer Allan Schoenborn walked out of his client's annual review hearing Wednesday – abruptly ending proceedings marked by tense exchanges and several outbursts.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Juror dismissed in Trump hush money trial as prosecutors ask for former president to face contempt
Prosecutors in the hush money trial of Donald Trump asked Thursday for the former president to be held in contempt and fined because of seven social media posts that they said violated a judge's gag order barring him from attacking witnesses.
Why drivers in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada will see a gas price spike, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
It's the biggest election in history. Here's why few Indians in Canada will take part
In the Indian general election that gets underway on Friday, almost a billion people are eligible to vote, but a vast majority of the overseas Indian community in Canada won't be casting a ballot.