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
BREAKING Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Her SUV was stolen in Montreal. A Good Samaritan on Facebook helped her get it back
Just as she had feared, a restaurant owner from eastern Quebec who visited Montreal had her SUV stolen, but says it was all thanks to the kindness of strangers on the internet — not the police — that she got it back.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.