Pubdate: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 Source: National Post (Canada) Copyright: 2011 Canwest Publishing Inc. Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286 Author: Megan O'Toole, National Post CROSS-COUNTRY RAID PRODUCES 300 CHARGES It allegedly began with a gang rivalry on the streets of Toronto's notorious Jane-Finch neighbourhood, and culminated in the early hours of Tuesday morning with a massive, cross-country police raid that netted at least 60 arrests. More than 900 officers between Ottawa and Surrey, B.C., helped to execute search warrants simultaneously at 67 locations with alleged connections to organized crime. Police expected to lay about 300 charges, ranging from gun and drug trafficking to prostitution, robbery and attempted murder. "The investigation is ongoing as we speak, and more arrests are anticipated," Toronto Police Superintendent Chris White, who heads the force's guns and gangs task force, said at an afternoon news conference. "The organized crime enforcement unit's mandate is to identify, disrupt and dismantle organized crime groups. Today I think we had a successful day." Project Marvel - so named because some of the gang members it targeted used street names associated with Marvel Comics - began in May as a joint initiative of Toronto, London and Waterloo police, in conjunction with Ontario Provincial Police. The trigger was a rash of gang violence in 31 Division, which encompasses the hardhit Jane-Finch corridor in the city's northwest. The two gangs alleged to have been involved were the Young Buck Killas, also known as YBK, and the G-Siders. "It appeared to be a rivalry between gang members," Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair said, noting the investigation quickly led police to connect the dots to crimes in other jurisdictions. "This became a national investigation.... It revealed a level of mobility among street gangs that we had not previously witnessed in this city." The probe spread "well beyond the borders of Toronto" to southern Ontario and farther west to Calgary and Vancouver, police said, though most of the warrants executed Tuesday targeted locations in Greater Toronto. As the investigation matured, Supt. White said, members of the Young Buck Killas and the G-Siders came under suspicion for funnelling guns and drugs across the country. As part of the investigation, police seized about two dozen guns, including a highpowered assault rifle, along with ammunition, cocaine and a "considerable amount" of cash. Police also worked with U.S. authorities to trace some of the firearms that surfaced in Toronto, but no arrests had been made across the border. Supt. White suggested the two gangs, which he called "well-organized" and "ruthless," became mobile after Toronto police investigators ramped up local pressure on their organizations. "They found it uncomfortable to do business in Toronto, so they branched out to other areas across the country," he said. Among the 60 people arrested were 10 young offenders. On Wednesday, police were planning a "show and tell" to provide specifics of the charges laid and to display the variety of weapons seized, Chief Blair said. "We believe that we have identified the alleged leaders of these organizations. We have gathered evidence to lay significant charges," he said, adding the probe could have a significant impact on curtailing gang activity in the region: "It not only dismantles the hierarchy of the gang itself, but it's also a very significant disruption of the criminal activity." The chief would not immediately comment on whether the two gangs involved in Project Marvel may have been connected to other high-profile shootings in the city over the years. "There's still a lot of work to be done," Chief Blair said, noting evidence seized Tuesday could aid other ongoing investigations. In the meantime, police have been deployed to neighbourhoods where the warrants were executed to help assure residents the environment is safe, police said. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.