Four Also Charged With Stealing From Passenger Luggage
The Toronto Airport Drug Enforcement
Unit (TADEU) arrested and charged eight people with drug related
offenses Thursday for the importation, exportation and trafficking
of approximately 85 pounds of ecstasy tablets, about six pounds of
cocaine, 8 pounds of marijuana and $106,000 cash.
Police are alleging this group had members of their criminal
network working at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport
(TLBPIA) who were able to utilize their positions to facilitate the
movement of drugs and money between Canada and the United
States.
The US Department of Homeland Security Immigration Customs
Enforcement and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency were partners in
the investigation code named Project OCOOK, said the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police.
As a result of their participation, seizures of ecstasy
originating from Canada were made in Atlanta, Houston and Hartford.
Assistance was also received from Kitchener RCMP and Waterloo
Regional Police Service in the arrest of targets that were
distributing cocaine locally.
The project also resulted in four TLBPIA airport employees being
charged with theft related offenses by Peel Regional Police. These
individuals worked for two separate companies at TLBPIA and are
alleged to have been stealing personal items from traveler's
luggage as well as electronic goods from cargo shipments. One of
these accused has also been charged with conspiracy to import
cocaine.
"This investigation highlights the threat that criminal
organizations can impose on the air industry and the traveling
public", stated Supt. Ron Allen, Officer in Charge of the Greater
Toronto Area Drug Section.
"There is a large volume of passenger and cargo traffic
traversing through TLBPIA on a daily basis which presents
opportunity for organized crime groups to exert their influence to
facilitate the movement of illegal commodities.
This issue has long been a concern for the enforcement agencies
that are part of TADEU and they continue to be committed to working
with Canadian and U.S. partners as well as the private sector
within TLBPIA to lower the risk that criminal networks have on
Canada's largest airport."
All those arrested in Canada will appear in Brampton Court.
TADEU is comprised of law enforcement personnel from the RCMP,
Peel Regional Police, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Toronto
Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police.