Pubdate: Thu, 08 Jun 2006
Source: Guardian, The (CN PI)
Copyright: 2006 The Guardian, Charlottetown Guardian Group Incorporated
Contact:  http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/174
Author: Nigel Armstrong, The Guardian
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?216 (CN Police)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Marijuana - Canada)

P.E.I. POLICE OFFICERS PLAY ROLE IN BUST OF MAJOR DRUG RING

Members of P.E.I. Emergency Response Team Involved in Covert 
Operation That Saw RCMP Take Control of Tons of Hashish From Boat Off 
African Coast.

In the covert world of police tactical troops, little is being said 
other than some members of the P.E.I. Emergency Response Team were 
involved in a recent massive drug operation involving a boat off the 
coast of Africa.

"The Montreal drug section confirms that yes, there was a member of 
the tactical team of the Charlottetown City Police who was involved 
in some operations done in the Maritimes," said Cpl. Luc Bessette, 
spokesperson for the RCMP in Montreal, Que.

The bust focused on three Montreal men and resulted in the RCMP 
taking control of 22.5 tons of hashish aboard a boat off the coast of Africa.

"The drugs came back to Canada, we brought it back to Canada and we 
did not want to say exactly how we brought it back to Montreal but it 
was not by boat," said Bessette.

"The drugs ended up in the Maritimes and were brought back to 
Montreal by police. A quantity of that size (made it) a covert 
operation. It had to be concealed and it had to be protected as well. 
The police of the Maritimes was involved. We did appreciate the help 
from the Maritimes."

Known as Project Chabanel, the operation involved close co-operation 
with Canada's Department of National Defence and RCMP liaison 
officers in England, Morocco, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Spain.

A news release from Bessette's office said that for more than a year 
and a half, investigators from Montreal and Halifax RCMP Drug 
Sections worked on the details.

"The investigation was launched after information was gathered to the 
effect that Peter Toman, a subject linked to the West End Gang, was 
involved in a major hashish import operation from Africa.

"The Peter Toman organization first had to find a crew and ship 
suitable for deep-water navigation and for transporting the drugs," 
said the RCMP news release. "Project Chabanel was therefore initiated 
by the RCMP. A vessel was chartered for the purposes of the 
operation. By early May the vessel had travelled to a pre-determined 
location approximately 200 miles off the coast of Angola in southern Africa.

"At this point the drugs were transferred from the supply vessel, 
whose crew was primarily made up of Filipino sailors, to the RCMP 
vessel. The RCMP (officers) spent more than 43 days at sea in order 
to seize the 22.5 tons of hashish and thus prevent its distribution 
to communities in Canada.

"HMCS Fredericton, a Department of National Defence frigate, followed 
the RCMP vessel at a distance and was ready to respond and to provide 
necessary assistance throughout the journey, ensuring the safety of 
the police officers and serving as command post.

"Once transshipment was completed to the RCMP vessel, the drugs were 
brought into Canada and taken to Montreal under heavy police escort.

"The drug shipment was to be delivered to the Peter Toman 
organization on June 2, 2006. This is when the arrests were made.

"In addition to seizing 22.5 tons of hashish, the federal police had 
obtained $195,000 (Cdn) from the Peter Toman organization.

"This 22.5-ton seizure represents more than six times the amount of 
hashish (seized) last year in Canada and/or en-route to Canada," the 
RCMP release continued. "This much hashish could have yielded 
approximately 22.5 million hits if sold by the unit that now will not 
go toward benefiting organized crime.

"The main conspirators arrested in Project Chabanel are 59-year-old 
Peter Toman, 24-year-old Andrew Toman and 57-year-old Sidney Lallouz. 
All three men are from the Montreal area. They have been charged with 
drug importation, conspiracy to import, possession for the purpose of 
trafficking and drug trafficking under the Controlled Drugs and 
Substances Act. The three subjects controlled an "import" cell of the 
West End Gang. The investigation is ongoing.

"It should be noted that Project Chabanel required the participation 
of almost all the Montreal RCMP Drug Section investigators," said the 
news release. "In all, more than 250 RCMP officers from Quebec, the 
Ottawa region, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, 
Newfoundland, Saskatchewan, and close to 200 sailors of the 
Department of National Defence took part in the investigation." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake