A joint investigation between Canadian and U.S. authorities has resulted in a “record-breaking” seizure of unlawful firearms in Ontario, police say.
At a information convention in Orillia Thursday, members of the OPP’s provincial weapons enforcement unit and U.S. Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) informed reporters {that a} whole of 274 unlawful firearms, supposed on the market within the Higher Toronto Space, have been seized on either side of the border.
“Unlawful firearms like these are utilized in violent crimes corresponding to robberies, carjackings, residence invasions, intimidation, extortion and homicides,” stated OPP commissioner Thomas Carrique.
Fentanyl, different medication additionally seized
The 106 firearms confiscated in Ontario mark the biggest seizure of handguns and assault-style rifles within the province’s historical past, police stated. Of the 168 weapons seized within the U.S., most have been being smuggled into Ontario by means of Buffalo, police stated, although the investigation reached so far as Florida.
Police stated firearms have been being offered days and even hours after they have been smuggled throughout the border.
In 17 OPP-led searches carried out earlier this month, police stated additionally they seized quite a lot of illicit medication supposed for trafficking, like fentanyl and methamphetamine.
The estimated avenue worth of the firearms and illicit medication seized in Ontario is simply over $3 million, police stated.
There have been 16 arrests made in Ontario in relation to the investigation. One man from St. Catharines remains to be excellent. Police stated six of the accused are topic to lifetime firearms prohibition bans, and one was on full parole.
Investigation started final yr
The seizures have been the results of the OPP-led Mission Saxom and the HSI-led Mission Duel Strategy, each of which started investigations final yr into two people in search of to promote firearms across the GTA.
Police stated they finally uncovered involvement from 5 separate prison networks.
HSI Buffalo Particular Agent Matthew Scarpino, who led Duel Strategy, stated investigators found an organized “firearm smuggling pipeline” between Florida and worldwide ports of entry within the Buffalo and Niagara areas.
A number of undercover operations led to the arrest of a twin U.S.-Canadian citizen, Scarpino stated, who informed undercover brokers he would journey to Florida to smuggle firearms as much as Canada. That man is being prosecuted within the U.S.
