Source: Toronto Star (Canada)
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Pubdate: Wednesday, August 19, 1998
Section: Page B1
Author: Theresa Ebden Toronto Star Staff Reporter 

THREE GRANTED BAIL IN DRUG CARTEL CASE

Three men have been granted bail after being held for more than a month in
what police call one of the largest drug cartel busts in decades.

More than 200 police officers in three countries made 14 arrests starting
on July 15, most in the Greater Toronto Area.

Police allege the Caruana-Cuntrera family runs a financial empire that
launders crime profits for many of the world's top underworld families. A
publication ban is in effect on yesterday's court proceedings.

The three who were granted freedom are among 12 men and women charged with
conspiracy to traffic and import cocaine, by a Canadian multi-level police
investigative unit.

The suspected kingpin, car-wash owner Alfonzo Caruana, 52, of Woodbridge,
was not at yesterday's hearings. He is scheduled to appear for bail on
Sept. 23, and is currently being held at Metro East Detention Centre, court
officials say.

PHOTOGRAPHER HIT

After being granted $100,000 bail, 67-year-old Dominic Rossi and the man
who posted his bail struck a Toronto Star photographer with their
umbrellas, breaking a piece off his camera, while on their way out of the
old city hall courthouse. In court, Rossi fell off the prisoner's bench in
an apparent loss of balance.

Earlier, an unidentified family supporter kicked at and struck a Toronto
Sun photographer, also breaking his camera as he photographed Ignazio
Genua, 30, as he, too, walked away on $100,000 bail.

The unidentified supporter later threatened another Star photographer with
violence.

Giuseppe Caruana, 28, of St. Leonard, Que., was granted $400,000 bail.

All three men were ordered not to own pagers or cell phones, and are not to
be near certain buildings, including 4646 Dufferin St., an
industrial/commercial complex, Genua Fine Foods Ltd. at Spadina and St.
Clair Aves., and Red Sea Fish Importing on Jane St.

The three men were ordered by Judge Donald August of Ontario Court,
provincial division, not to speak with the co-accused, as well as three
others, all named Giuseppe Cuntrera.

For Giuseppe Caruana, nephew of the cartel's accused kingpin, this means he
may not contact his own father, Gerlando Caruana, 54, who is also accused
and scheduled to appear for a bail hearing on Sept. 23.

Giuseppe Caruana later walked into the afternoon sunshine peacefully with
his lawyer, Frank Addario.

``They're father and son, I don't understand why they can't talk to each
other. It's pre-trial punishment,'' Addario said in an interview. ``He has
been sharing a cell with his father for three weeks and if he really wanted
to get a message to him, he would.''

Anna Staniscia-Zaino, 42, of Montreal witnessed the proceedings after her
own bail hearing was held over until tomorrow at 2 p.m.

Court officials said the case could last several years.

Police remained tight-lipped on the case in an interview yesterday, but
maintained their case, dubbed ``Project Omerta'' is a 30-year-old epic with
many parts still waiting to be told.

``There have been books written on the Cuntrera-Caruana organization. This
ring is high up, the families have been around for (many) years,'' said
Detective Sergeant Steve Perrow of the Ontario Provincial Police arm of the
18-member organized crime team, which also included the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police, Toronto, York Region and Peel Region police forces.

Twelve accused are scheduled to appear in court Sept. 3 to confirm the bail
hearing target date of Sept. 23, and resolve other matters which are
currently under a publication ban.

Two had charges withdrawn in Canada but face charges in the United States.

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Checked-by: Mike Gogulski