Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have been working with local forces for about a year to arrest 27 gang members believed to be part of a drug trafficking ring, including members of the Hells Angels and Red Devils motorcycle gangs.
They also shut down a biker clubhouse on Highway 37 in Belleville and a storefront downtown. The operation, called “Project Coyote,” was a collaboration between the OPP and Toronto, Belleville, and Windsor police services.
“Urban street gangs are moving out of the neighborhoods, and they’re turning into global criminal networks. They’re becoming bigger and becoming bolder. They’re becoming more enterprising and more sophisticated,” said OPP Chief Superintendent Paul Mackey at the announcement on Feb. 23.
“They’re moving out of club houses, and into storefronts where they’re trying to expand their influences even further,” he said.
Mackey said police seized more than a dozen firearms—including 3D printed weapons—as well as more than a kilogram of fentanyl, 6 kg of methamphetamine, and 616 kg of cocaine. They seized more than $370,000 in Canadian currency stemming from the proceeds of crime, 10 vehicles, and jewelry worth about $150,000 as well as various Hells Angels items.
Of the 27 arrests, 15 were made on Feb. 22.
Staff Superintendent for the Toronto Police Service Paul MacIntyre said: “The work of organized criminals spreads across borders and so police work must as well. It’s important that investigators work in concert with one another to conduct such investigations to keep our community safe.”
Mackey said, now that significant action had been taken to disable the drug trafficking ring, “our focus is now going to shift locally towards working with our social service providers to support those who have been victimized by these gangs.”
The criminal activity of these gangs includes human trafficking, extortion, and violence, and Deputy Chief Chris Barry of the Belleville Police Service said, “this case will no doubt go a long way towards restoring a feeling of safety and security amongst the public and our community and many others in cities and towns across our province.”
