Thirty-two people have been arrested and 158 charges have been laid in connection with a firearm and drug investigation into a Toronto street gang known as the Jamestown Crips.
The 11-month investigation, dubbed Project Foxxx, commenced last September when the Toronto Police Service (TPS) partnered with York Regional Police, Peel Regional Police Service, the RCMP, and the Ontario Provincial Police to disrupt a drug and firearm trafficking network, TPS Deputy Chief Rob Johnson said during an Aug. 15 press conference in Toronto.
The Jamestown Crips, a “long-standing street gang” in the city, is accused of trafficking illicit drugs across Ontario, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador, he said.
Nine firearms were seized as part of an investigation into a Toronto street gang known as the Jamestown Crips. Toronto Police/ Handout photo
TPS Insp. Paul Krawczyk said the Crips’ alleged activities “endanger innocent lives and destabilize communities.”
“Gangs operate with a total disregard for the safety and well-being of others,” Krawczyk said, adding that Toronto gang activities are not just having an impact locally, but across the country.
“Their influence is no longer contained to specific streets and areas in our city. Their criminal networks extend far beyond Toronto, reaching into other provinces and affecting communities across the country,” he said. “We must do everything we can to stop them.”
One part of the investigation saw officers working with Canada Post to intercept packages of drugs being distributed via mail, Krawczyk said.
Drugs were being concealed in regular packaging by gang members, Krawczyk alleged, noting that police intercepted packages before they arrived in St. John’s, Nfld.
Although the Jamestown Crips were “historically well established” in Toronto’s Rexdale neighbourhood, the gang has since branched out, Krawczyk said. That led officers to execute 35 search warrants in seven different cities: Brampton, Guelph, Hamilton, Mississauga, Toronto, and Vaughan in Ontario, and Thompson in Manitoba.
Police seized 4.7 kilograms of cocaine with an approximate street value of $568,000 and six kilograms of methamphetamine with an approximate street value of $480,000. Also confiscated were nine firearms and more than $320,000, which Krawczyk described as the “proceeds from crime.”
A total of 32 people, including two teenagers, were taken into custody and are facing a total of 158 charges among them. The age of the suspects ranges from 16 to 55.
The youngest of the group is a 16-year-old from Paris, Ont., who is facing several firearm-related charges. His name cannot be released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Zakhi Martin, 19, of Toronto also faces a litany of charges including four drug-related charges and six firearms charges.
All arrested individuals have appeared in court and further proceedings are underway, police said.
The task force also worked in collaboration with the Canada Border Services Agency, Homeland Security Investigations, Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, Hamilton Police Service, South Simcoe Police Service, Thunder Bay Police Service, Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario, Financial Transactions & Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), and VIA Rail Canada Police Service.
