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Ontario: The Toronto Police Service’s gun and gang task force says more than two dozen people were arrested this morning after 50 search warrants were executed in Toronto and across southern Ontario.
Speaking at a news conference at 23 Division Thursday morning, Insp. Bryan Bott said that more than 700 officers from police forces inside and outside the GTA took part in the early morning raids, which were carried out at homes and businesses in Toronto, Hamilton, Peel Region, Barrie, Bradford, Durham Region and St. Catharines.
The raids were part of ‘Project Pharaoh,’ an investigation that involved federal, provincial and local police forces. The case, which was launched in September, targeted members of a ‘mid-level’ gang called the ‘Monstarz’, police say.
“This group was targeted as a result of them being involved in 44 specific incidents of violence in the City of Toronto, including homicides, robberies, shootings,” Bott told reporters.
“The allegations are that they are all involved in criminal organization, firearms trafficking, and drug trafficking,” Bott said.
The investigator said homicide investigations have been launched as a result of ‘Project Pharaoh’ but would not provide further details.
To date, a total of more than 60 people have been arrested in connection with the investigation, police said.
In addition to the arrests, six firearms, 34 kilograms of cocaine, and $45,000 in cash were seized during the raids.
Bott said police will be providing an update on the case at a news conference tomorrow morning.
