Pubdate: Fri, 16 Apr 2004
Source: Mississauga News (CN ON)
Copyright: The Mississauga News 2004
Contact:  http://www.mississauganews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/268
Author: Louie Rosella

INTERNATIONAL DRUG RING BASED IN CITY

Police seize millions in dragnet

Residents are shocked

An international drug ring headquartered in Mississauga used boats and
snowmobiles to transport 1,000 pounds of marijuana across the border
monthly, Peel Regional Police said, after seizing millions of dollars in
drugs, jewellery and luxury cars.

The Peel Regional Police Morality Bureau anchored a joint forces raid across
the city yesterday morning. Undercover officers raided 12 homes in Peel,
including several in the area of Mavis Rd. and Hwy. 401, and four other
residences across Ontario.

The names of the more than 20 people arrested are expected to be announced
at a news conference today, along with the criminal charges they are facing.

Sources close to the investigation said one of the arrests in Mississauga
yesterday involved a high-speed chase as two police cruisers pursued a van.

"These individuals are at the top of a highly-organized and sophisticated
ring with profits and holdings in the millions of dollars," said Peel Sgt.
Todd Moore. "These people were living in expensive homes and driving
expensive cars."

The seven-month investigation, dubbed Project Freightliner, targeted an
Asian crime group that allegedly grew and collected pot and distributed it
throughout the United States, police said.

Investigators believe drugs were shipped across the border via the waterways
from the Cornwall area.

Police said the drug dealers modified boats and snowmobiles with hidden
compartments to conceal the drugs they were transporting.

With the help of numerous police forces including the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Peel police yesterday seized $2
million in cash, nearly $2 million in drugs and jewellery, and a number of
high-end vehicles, including two Porsches and a Mercedes Benz.

Residents in the north Mississauga neighbourhoods where the ring operated
said there were signs of illegal activity this past year.

"At night this place looked like a parking lot for a Mercedes dealership,"
said Knotty Pine Grove resident Kareem Charley. "Here I'm worried about
paying the bills, and there are 20-year-olds who look like they won the
lottery."

Still, neighbours were shocked that so much crime was occurring in such
quiet subdivisions."I don't feel very safe when I see stuff like this going
on," said another Knotty

Pine Grove resident, George Evtimovski, a father of three daughters. "I have
a family, and this scares me." Moore said the ring concealed its crimes by
setting up shop in peaceful neighbourhoods. "It doesn't stick out, that's
for sure," he said outside one of the suspect homes.

"No one is going to look at this residence and think that there's anything
going on inside. (This group) was highly sophisticated, and very
profitable."
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