Authorities have taken around $4.5 million worth of cocaine and hundreds of thousands in cash after a joint investigation across southern Ontario.
On July 8, officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and other agencies carried out a search warrant at a Toronto condo as part of an operation called “Golden Horseshoe.” They claim the condo was used for storing and prepping cocaine for distribution.
During the search, law enforcement seized over 170 kilograms of cocaine valued at about $4.5 million. They arrested two men without any trouble and found a third suspect nearby, according to a news release issued on Friday.
Following this, police executed more search warrants at several sites in Hamilton, seizing around $165,000 in cash along with jewelry under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Tony Van Le, 39, Cong Quang Van, 38, both from Hamilton, and Hai Thanh Hoa Tran, 41, from Brantford were charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
These charges haven’t been tested in court yet.
Working alongside the RCMP were several agencies including the Toronto Police Service, Canada Border Services Agency, Ontario Provincial Police, Brantford Police Service, Hamilton Police Service and Niagara Regional Police Service as part of this investigation.
“Organized crime is driven by profit, but the consequences are felt in communities across Canada. The trafficking of illicit drugs fuels addiction, violence and exploitation, placing individuals, families and our communities at risk,” said RCMP Insp. Lucio De Simone.
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