Pubdate: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2002, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.fyitoronto.com/torsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457 Author: Rob Lamberti, Toronto Sun MOB SWEEP: 32 ARRESTED York Police Uncover Drugs, Explosives York Regional Police are to announce today the arrests of 32 people in an organized crime sweep launched following the execution-style slaying of an Etobicoke casket salesman. Unstable explosives, firearms and millions of dollars of drugs were uncovered in the 16-month investigation dubbed Project RIP. The probe began following the Oct. 3, 2000, hit on Gaetano Panepinto, 41, in Etobicoke. Police wanted to find out who had filled the vacuum left by Panepinto's death and to stem the drug trade conducted by the group. Police estimate about $10 million in drugs was seized along with weapons and cash. The firearms are being tested by ballistics experts to determine whether they had been involved in any unsolved shootings. UNSTABLE DYNAMITE During the investigation, detectives also uncovered a cache of unstable dynamite and a device that could have been used as a bomb from a Concord house. Panepinto, described by police sources as the Ontario representative for the Montreal-based Rizzuto crime group, was shot dead as he was driving his car in Etobicoke. Police believe his slaying is linked to the disappearance and suspected murders of two Calabrian mobsters. It's believed the orders for his murder came from Italy. The probe also uncovered thousands of dollars worth of fraud and recovered a quantity of stolen goods. Some of the seized contraband is expected to be shown during today's noon press conference scheduled at York headquarters in Newmarket. The project, which was led by York, also involved OPP's organized crime section and officers from Toronto, Peel, the RCMP, Canada Customs. It was funded by the Criminal Intelligence Service of Ontario. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D