‘They’re moving out of clubhouses’: Project Coyote arrests in Hells Angels and Red Devils investigation
Toronto Police, the Ontario Provincial Police and Belleville Police announced the results of a joint organized crime investigation dubbed Project Coyote" on Thursday.
The yearlong investigation dismantled two criminal groups operating a drug trafficking network in the Belleville area, culminating in 27 arrests.
On Jan. 18, nine high risk warrants were executed in the GTA, which resulted in the arrest of 12 individuals, police announced during an afternoon news conference held online.
On Wednesday, an additional 15 arrests were made in 23 locations in Ontario, including three members of the Hells Angels and three members of the Red Devils motorcycle club.
Urban street gangs are moving out of the neighbourhoods and they're turning into global criminal networks," said OPP Chief Superintendent Paul Mackey, they're moving out of club houses, and in the storefronts, where they're trying to expand their influence even further," he added.
According to Mackey, police have seized 1,000 firearms, including stolen and 3-D printed weapons.
Police seized more than a kilogram of fentanyl, six kilos of methamphetamine, 16 kilos of cocaine, and more than 370,000 in Canadian currency . They've seized 10 vehicles, jewelry, including two Rolex watches, worth more than $150,000.
They've also found three sawed-off guns as well as miscellaneous Hells Angels items such as vests and signs.
A clubhouse in Belleville on Highway 37 and a downtown business storefront were shut down as part of the investigation.
Charges include offences related to criminal organization, conspiracy, trafficking of controlled substances, trafficking of firearms, and possession of property obtained by crime.
The press conference was live streamed at 1 p.m. on OPP's Twitter channel, OPP's YouTube channel and on Facebook.
Ana Pereira is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @anabpereiraa