Send this page to someone via email Toronto police say $17 million in drugs was seized after 29 search warrants resulted in eight arrests in the major drug investigation, Project Dos. Supt. Steven Watts and Inspt. Don Belanger of the drug squad told reporters at a press conference Thursday an investigation began into “individuals they had reason to believe were trafficking high levels of kilograms of cocaine and other illicit substance.” “Over the course of several months, evidence was collected and led our investigators to believe the individuals were operating a high level illicit distribution ring capable of generating profits in the millions of dollars,” Watts said. On April 29, search warrants were executed at a number of different homes and storage lockers in Toronto, Vaughan, Kitchener and Stoney Creek. Story continues below advertisement During the searches, officers seized close to 29 kilograms of powder cocaine, 3,905 illegally grown marijuana plants and close to 700 kilograms of ephedrine (medication used in the creation of crystal meth). Belanger said the quantity of ephedrine had the potential to yield over $2.1 million when sold on the black market. He added that a kilogram of ephedrine can create approximately 700 grams of crystal meth – which means that 700 kilograms of ephedrine has the capacity to produce as much as 490 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. Belanger said the marijuana was found at a grow-op in Kitchener. He said the facility was licensed but exceeded the allowable limit to grow. He said the illegal plants had the potential to make a profit of close to $10 million. Police also seized 20 kilograms of phenacetin (used as a cutting agent in powder cocaine), smaller quantities of ketamine and crystal methamphetamine and over $300 thousand in cash believed to be proceeds from the illegal drug ring. Duc Duy Pham, 32, of Toronto, was charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. Quoc Pham, 38, of Toronto, was charged with three counts of possession for the purposes of trafficking a schedule I substance – cocaine, possession of proceeds over $5,000, conspiracy to Commit an indictable offence. Story continues below advertisement Thi Thuy Van Nguyen, 33 of Toronto, was charged with three possession for the purposes of trafficking a schedule I substance – cocaine, possession of proceeds over $5,000 , Conspiracy to Commit an indictable offence. Mario Palermo, 19, of Toronto, was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking schedule I substance (cocaine), possession of proceeds over $5,000, conspiracy to commit an indicatable offence – traffic cocaine. Ai He, 32, of Toronto, was charged with two counts of possession of cannabis for the purpose distribution, possession of proceeds under $5,000, possession of proceeds over $5,000. Hung Phi Nguyen, 34, of Stoney Creek, was charged with purposes of trafficking a schedule I substance – Ketamine, possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000, Fail to Comply with Recognizance. Ryan Yetman, 26, of Toronto, was charged with two counts of possession for the purposes of trafficking a schedule I substance – cocaine, possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000. Amanda King, 32, of Toronto, was charged with two counts of possession for the purposes of trafficking a schedule I substance – cocaine, possession of Proceeds of crime under $5,000. All are scheduled to appear in a Toronto court on June 12. Advertisement<doc-sep>Share this Story: Toronto cops dismantle 'sophisticated' illegal drug distribution ring Toronto cops dismantle 'sophisticated' illegal drug distribution ring Article content A major bust targeting a sophisticated drug distribution ring operating in and around the GTA has led to eight arrests and the seizure of more than $17 million in illicit drugs, including a whopping 700 kilograms of ephedrine. And Toronto Police say the massive amount of ephedrine discovered during Project Dos — believed to be the largest seizure of the crystal meth ingredient ever made by cops in Canada — may indicate the use of crystal methamphetamine is on the rise in the city. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Toronto cops dismantle 'sophisticated' illegal drug distribution ring Back to video “It’s no secret the (current) trend on the West Coast is a large increase in crystal methamphetamine use,” Organized Crime Enforcement Supt. Steve Watts said Thursday at headquarters. He added trends in drug usage often surface out west first and then move east to Ontario. “This amount of ephedrine is truly unprecedented in my time in drug enforcement, which is about three decades,” Watts said. “So that gives you an idea of the market for the illicit substances moving forward.” Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Insp. Don Belanger said Project Dos began several months ago as an investigation into two suspected cocaine traffickers and expanded into something much bigger. With help from neighbouring police services, he said officers executed 29 search warrants on April 25 in Toronto, Vaughan, Kitchener and Stoney Creek. “Much of the seized contraband was located in lockers and condos that were being used as stash houses,” Belanger alleged, adding a “significant number” of the search warrants were executed on vehicles, including some with built-in “traps” or hidden compartments. More On This Topic Three high-level cocaine dealers, $7.6M in drugs nabbed: Toronto cops Toronto cops seize drugs, guns in major arrest Alleged dealer faces 100 weapons and drug charges Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content He said seven kilos of powdered cocaine were allegedly seized from one vehicle linked to the husband and wife who were at the heart of the investigation. Close to 29 kilograms of cocaine — worth nearly $3 million on the street — was seized. He said the ephedrine, allegedly found in the accused couple’s garage, could have been sold to crystal meth producers for about $2.1 million. But the 700 kilograms of ephedrine could have been used to produce an “astounding” 490 kilograms of crystal meth, which Belanger estimated would have fetched nearly $11.3 million on the street — if sold by the kilo. While executing one search warrant in Kitchener, he said officers discovered a grow-op for legal medicinal marijuana but alleged its operators were growing “way beyond” double the number of plants specified by the Health Canada licence. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The extra 3,905 plants allegedly found at the grow-op would have produced an amount of pot that could easily have sold for nearly $10 million on the street, he said. Cops also allegedly seized about 20 kilograms of phenacetin, a substance used as a cutting agent in powder cocaine to increase profits, smaller amounts of ketamine and crystal meth, and $308,000 in cash. “When looking at the totality of the drugs, precursors and cutting agents uncovered in this operation, our drug experts estimate the total potential street value to be a staggering $17 million,” Belanger said. Quoc Pham, 38; his wife, Thi Thuy Van Nguyen, 33; Duc Duy Pham, 32; Mario Palermo, 19; Ai He, 32; Ryan Yetman, 26;and Amanda King, 32 — all of Toronto — Hung Phi Nguyen, 34, of Stoney Creek, face an assortment of charges. All currently out on bail, they are scheduled to appear in court at Old City Hall court on June 12. cdoucette@postmedia.com On Twitter: @SunDoucette We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. 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Please try again Trending<doc-sep>Toronto police have charged eight people in connection with a series of drug busts in four southern Ontario cities that led to seizures of large quantities of drugs and cash. Police said Thursday that the individuals were involved in a "high-level" drug trafficking ring capable of generating millions of dollars in profit. "[Investigators'] efforts have not only placed a group of alleged producers and dealers before the court but they've removed millions of dollars of illicit substances and proceeds from the illegal drug market," said Supt. Steven Watts at a news conference. The eight accused are facing a total of 27 charges, among them drug possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime, and conspiracy to commit an indictable offense. Police say they confiscated 29 kilograms of cocaine, smaller quantities of ketamine, and hundreds of kilograms of chemicals such as ephedrine, which is used in the production of crystal meth. The drugs were seized during the execution of 29 search warrants carried out as part of a Toronto police drug squad investigation dubbed Project Dos. They have a street value of up to $17 million, according to Watts. The raids were conducted on April 25 in Toronto, Vaughan, Waterloo and Stoney Creek. Police also confiscated around 4,000 illegally-grown cannabis plants and $308,000 in cash.<doc-sep>Send this page to someone via email Two people were arrested and drugs, guns and money were seized following a recent dial-a-dope investigation by West Kelowna RCMP. Police said the month-long investigation resulted in a search warrant being executed at a private residence in Mount Boucherie on Wednesday evening. Police added that the 38-year-old man and 30-year-old woman had ties to the home on Menu Road. “Our investigators believe that the drug dial-a-dope operation spanned from throughout the Okanagan, from Kelowna to Penticton,” said Kelowna RCMP Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey. WATCH BELOW (March 6, 2019): Police reveal drugs, cash and cutting agent used in Winnipeg drug trafficking 0:54 Police reveal drugs, cash and cutting agent used in Winnipeg drug trafficking Police reveal drugs, cash and cutting agent used in Winnipeg drug trafficking – Mar 6, 2019 According to police, once both suspects were taken into custody, the home was searched. Reportedly seized were cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, illicit pills, more than $4,600 in cash, a loaded .38 calibre handgun and a semi-automatic SKS rifle. Story continues below advertisement Police said the man and woman, who have since been released from custody, are facing potential drug and firearms related charges.<doc-sep>
Chris Fox, CP24.com Police have seized nearly 700 kilograms of a medication that is used in the production of crystal methamphetamine; an amount that the head of the organized crime enforcement team says is “unprecedented” in his time on the force. At a news conference at police headquarters on Thursday, Supt. Steve Watts said that investigators began looking into a group of individuals believed to be trafficking high volumes of cocaine several months ago. He said that as the investigation progressed, police received information indicating that the individuals were involved in a “high level distribution ring capable of generating profits in the millions of dollars.” On April 25, a total of 29 search warrants were then executed at addresses, storage, lockers and vehicles tied to the suspects in Toronto, Vaughan, Kitchener and Stoney Creek. During the execution of those search warrants police seized 29 kilograms of powdered cocaine with a street value of approximately $3 million and 3,905 illegally grown marijuana plants with a street value of about $10 million. Police also seized nearly 700 kilograms of the medication ephedrine that they say was likely “destined” for a clandestine lab or labs and 20 kilograms of the drug phenacetin, which is relatively inexpensive and is used as a cutting agent in powdered cocaine. The ephedrine seizure is believed to be the largest in Toronto Police Service history. “This amount of ephedrine is totally unprecedented in my time in drug enforcement, which is about three decades,” Watts said. “It gives you an idea of the market for that illicit substance (crystal methamphetamine) moving forward.” Police say that the amount of ephedrine that was seized would have a street value of about $2.1 million and would be enough to manufacture 490 kilograms of illegal methamphetamines. While no lab was located, police say that that amount of ephedrine seized could only be used in the largescale production of methamphetamine. “This started out as a cocaine investigation and as we investigated we discovered that these individuals were involved in more than powdered cocaine sales. This investigation is by no means concluded and I will leave it at that,” Insp. Don Belanger said during Thursday’s news conference. Police said that a significant portion of the seized contraband was found in condo storage lockers that were more or less used as “stash houses.” The marijuana, meanwhile, was found at a grow-op in Kitchener. Police say that the facility was licensed by Health Canada to produce marijuana for medicinal purposes but exceeded its allowable growing limit by “an astounding 3,905 plants.” “Based on a conservative estimate that one marijuana plant can produce roughly 250 grams of dried marijuana, 3,905 plants have the potential to generate profits of approximately $10 million,” Belanger said. A total of eight suspects are facing a combined 24 charges in connection with the bust.