Ontario Provincial Police seized "significant amounts of cash, firearms, weapons" after raids on organized crime gangs in Ontario.
Twenty-seven people were arrested in multiple Ontario locations.
The 13-month joint-forces investigation is named "Project Coyote."
In January 2022, the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, Provincial Operations Intelligence Bureau and the Toronto and Belleville Police Services began an investigation into the trafficking of controlled substances and firearms by drug traffickers and members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.
Nine high-risk warrants executed in the GTA on Jan. 18, 2023, resulted in the arrest of 12. Additional warrants were executed and 15 arrests were made on Feb. 22. Police say this included three members of the Hells Angels and three members of the Red Devils Motorcycle Club.
Significant amounts of cash, firearms, weapons and other items were seized including:
- One Glock P80 3D printed handgun
- One Ruger 357 (stolen) handgun
- One Taurus 9mm handgun
- One Sig Sauer 380-calibre prohibited handgun
- One SCCY CPX-2 9mm restricted handgun
- Three prohibited sawed-off shotguns
- Three replica handguns
- Two stun guns
- Live ammunition
- Jewelry, including two Rolex watches, gold chains, and rings with an approximate value of $150,000. miscellaneous Outlaw Motorcycle Gang jewelry
- Miscellaneous Hells Angels (HA) vests, signage, member list and photos
- Hard and soft body armour
- 10 vehicles
- More than $370,000 in cash
- 16 kilograms of cocaine
- 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl
- Six kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, and an additional 400 crystal methamphetamine pills
- 20 pounds of cannabis, as well as 500 packages of cannabis edibles and 700 cannabis edibles
- 500 vape pens and cartridges
- Eight pounds of hashish
- Seven grams of psilocybin (magic mushrooms)
As this investigation continues, more charges are anticipated.
"Street gangs, outlaw motorcycle gangs, and other organized crime groups undermine peace and security across our communities," says OPP Chief Supt. Paul Mackey. "They deal in violence and conflict. They launder money. They traffic firearms and people. They hurt our communities."
"Criminals and their organizations don't pay attention to boundaries — so neither should police services," added Toronto police Staff Supt. Paul MacIntyre. "It's important that investigators work in concert to conduct such investigations to keep our communities safe, no matter what patch we wear on our shirts."
