Toronto police seize almost 700 kg and $60M worth of drugs in record bust
Posted November 17, 2022 12:11 pm.
Last Updated November 17, 2022 2:25 pm.
Toronto police have seized almost 700 kg of illicit drugs in the largest single-day drug bust in the service’s history.
Deputy Chief Pauline Gray said a total of 520 kilos of crystal methamphetamine and 151 kilos of cocaine with an estimated street value of $58 million were seized back on Oct. 5 during a raid on two Toronto homes.
The previous high for a drug seizure was 286 kg, which occurred in April of this year.
“A seizure of this size, quite frankly, is going to save lives,” said Gray as she stood before the large display of drugs during a Thursday news conference.
Police say with the help of the drug squad and the Asian organized crime task force, two addresses in Toronto were identified as “stash houses” for the illegal drugs. Following a four week long investigation, search warrants were then executed for those two addresses, along with three motor vehicles.
Supt. Mandeep Mann, the unit commander of the drug squad, said three individuals have been identified in connection with trafficking the drugs, however, he did not release their names pending their arrests. The trio are facing possession of cocaine and crystal methamphetamine for the purposes of trafficking.
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“The drugs that were seized in these stash houses were destined for our neighbourhoods. Intercepting the flow of these drugs have prevented possible overdoses, which we all know is an epidemic facing our communities as we speak,” said Mann, who noted that the drugs likely came from across the U.S. border.
“This seizure will help minimize the violence in Toronto that is driven by guns, gangs and drugs, and often, as we all know, with tragic consequences.”
