4 people charged, $800k in cash seized after RCMP bust alleged 'large-scale' drug importation network
Four Toronto residents have been charged and about $3 million worth of cash and goods have been seized after the RCMP busted an alleged “large-scale” drug importation network.
In a news release Friday, police said after a “long, complex investigation” they executed four search warrants in the Greater Toronto Area. Police allege cocaine was being imported into Canada and trafficked by the network.
Police said they seized more than $800,000 in Canadian cash, 88 units of Ether cryptocurrency, a 2022 Mercedes Benz G-wagon, and more than $2 million in jewelry, watches, and other luxury items.
The 88 units of Ether cryptocurrency is currently worth approximately $185,000.
“The RCMP's TSOC enforcement team has successfully disrupted this large-scale drug importation and trafficking network operating from the GTA,” Staff Sgt. Peter Ready, acting officer in charge of the Transnational Serious and Organized Crime unit said.
According to police, the investigation included assistance from the Canadian Border Services Agency, Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, Barrie police, Brantford police, Toronto police, and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada.
Toronto resident Eyob Haile-Michael, 36, has been charged with unlawfully importing a controlled substance, traffic in a controlled substance, conspiracy to import a controlled substance, conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance, and possession of property obtained by crime.
Abigail Bergman, 22, Hillway Haile-Michael, 40, and Nuriya Kemal, 32, have been charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
The charges have not been proven in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.