‘It’s A Drugstore:’ Cops Display Millions Of Dollars In Illegal Drugs Seized In Lightning Raids

They came to some of the city’s more questionable neighbourhoods but also to the ritziest. From storage lockers to basement apartments and penthouses, Toronto Police launched 50 lightning and pinpoint raids around sunrise Thursday, smashing what they allege is one of the biggest drug rings in the GTA.

Suspect after suspect was toted into 23 Division for processing, a total of 31 men and women in all, most from the GTA but a few from Waterloo and London.

Then came the show-and-tell in what one veteran officer called “a drugstore.”

Police displayed rows of cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, crystal meth, marijuana and more – including Viagra. The coke alone is worth an estimated $3 million, the rest at least $5 million.

Add to that total $400,000 in cash, 18 vehicles, and three high-end Toronto condos – including residences at prestigious addresses like  88 Palace Pier Ct., 2121 Lake Shore Blvd. W., and a building on Harrison Gardens Boulevard near Yonge and Sheppard.

Those who live in the tonier neighbourhoods are stunned at the arrests.

“It’s an expensive area,” explains one. “It’s not a rundown area.”

“It’s a very high-end neighbourhood, quiet and we don’t expect any of that activity,” another relates.

“Professional upscale buildings so, no, I’m very surprised,” a third concludes.

But cops say where there’s money in involved, no one is immune.

Detectives note it would have been very easy for those allegedly involved in this massive bust to simply fold up their tents and leave town. When they didn’t, cops came right after them.

“Project Cabra” actually started six months ago with the arrest of several suspects. But cops claim the supposed drug dealers ignored the warning signs that the law was on to them and kept the lucrative business going.

On Sunday, the first clue that something big was up arrived downtown. Police intercepted a truck from Vancouver with 20 kilos of cocaine inside. It was headed for the Toronto Island Airport.

“They were a very determined organization, and it would seem that even when portions of their organization were removed or arrested, it did not deter them at all,” marvels Detective Sgt. John Decourcy.

He describes them as a “sophisticated” group with an established hierarchy ranging from street to high-level dealers. And he believes there’s been a major dent put in the drug trade in the city.

“The streets have dried up substantially. The quality has not been as high as it has been in the past. With the seizure that we’ve made during the course of our investigation and with today’s seizure, it will definitely have an impact on the GTA.”

Police say the drugs were destined for T.O. streets – especially in the Entertainment District downtown.

Charges range from trafficking to conspiracy and weapons offences.  

It’s the second big bust in the city in as many months. Last June, Toronto cops spearheaded another massive raid that netted 40 suspects and hauled down 123 kilograms of drugs and 47 guns in Project Blackhawk  – although police say the two operations aren’t related. 

What Was Seized

• 31 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of almost $3.1 million;
• Six kilograms of heroin worth an estimated $1.8 million;
• Four kilograms of ecstasy valued at $400,000;
• Two kilograms of crystal meth worth an estimated $200,000;
• Five kilograms of marijuana said to be worth $20,000;
• Viagra, GHB, steroids;
• $400,000 in cash;
• 3 homes;
• 18 cars.

  Suspects Charged

  Jae-won Joo, 41, Toronto;

  Christopher Ducarmur, 39,  Toronto;

  Kyung Moo Randy Oh, 38,  Toronto;

  Alexander Chau, 27,  Richmond Hill;

  Aly Sunderani, 28,  Toronto;

  Andrew Selbie, 25,  Toronto;

  (Mark) Marvin Shew Hong, 26,  Toronto;

  Bounyong Ho, 42,  Richmond Hill;

  Emmanuel Dionisopoulas, 28,  Toronto;

  Henry Louie, 31,  Richmond Hill;

  Tin Hui Ye, 23,  Toronto;

  Tommy Bui, 21,  Toronto;

  (Andy) Do Thanh Nguyen, 28,  Toronto;

  Hussein Jammoul, 32,  Toronto;

  Dennis Mai, 23, Toronto;

  Hesham Mohamed Rashed, 37,  Toronto;

  Dimitrios Daniel Papadakis, 25,  London;

  Stavros Kyriakos Varnasidis, 25  London;

  Linda Bui, 20,  Toronto;

  Minzoo Kang, 23,  Toronto;

  Winnie Chau, 23,  Toronto;

  Bounmy Chansamone, 35, Waterloo;

  Adam Chau, 28, Toronto;

  Miuki To, 29,  Toronto;

  Vinh Chau, 56,  Toronto;

  Thu Ma, 56, Toronto.

  Source: Toronto Police