Huge drug, gun trafficking ring busted in Vaughan

A massive drugs and guns ring has been smashed by cops after an investigation was triggered by a Vaughan home invasion probe — and a unique crowbar.

York Regional Police say 17 people were arrested and charged and they seized a veritable arsenal of guns and ammunition in the probe.

And some have quite a history.

One of the those arrested and charged was a man convicted of gun trafficking who took his case to the Supreme Court of Canada and won after the majority ruled messages he received on his mobile phone were considered private.

“We’ve known a number of the individuals and a number of them were bound by weapons prohibition orders … one was on three separate firearms prohibition orders and breach of recognizance,” Insp. Ryan Hogan said in a YouTube statement.

Police released a video of the Oct. 17, 2019 home invasion last March showing three armed men ascending a staircase and beating a 26-year-old victim.

But the crowbar in the video was unique and sold at just one retailer, which led to suspects being identified.

“It was a violent home invasion … all the adults in the house were tied up, zip-tied, and forced down on the floor and demands were made for money and other personal belongings,” Det. Ryan Boulay said.

The unusual Stanley pry bar led detectives to Home Depot where investigators obtained video evidence.

The operation — dubbed Project Stanley — stretched from the GTA to Sudbury.

A multi-jurisdictional police task force raided a number of homes over the last six weeks seizing guns, cocaine, fentanyl and cash.

Participating in the probe were cops from York, Sudbury, Durham, Toronto, Peel, Hamilton, Halton and the OPP.

“In addition to the armed robbery investigation other serious crime was detected,” Hogan said. “This was a very complex investigation and often times investigators were forced with making split decisions, in one instance preventing an armed robbery before it happened.”

The suspects face a wide array of charges including conspiracy to commit robbery, firearms trafficking, drug trafficking, numerous breeches

Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Hold-Up Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6631, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, leave an anonymous tip online at http://www.1800222tips.com

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