Eighteen people are in police custody after they executed 25 raids throughout the GTA, including ones in Etobicoke and Vaughan on Tuesday morning.
The raids were meant to break up “several organized crime cells” that allegedly imported and sold drugs and firearms around the GTA, the RCMP said in a news release. They described the groups as “extremely violent,” alleging they used extortion to keep their operation going.
RCMP Sgt. Penny Hermann told CP24 the raids were carried out as part of an effort by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, made up of Mounties and several Ontario police services. Police began investigating the crime cells two years ago.
Tatical officers and a canine unit from multiple police forces were seen outside condo towers on Sherway Gardens Road in the West Mall area. One man was taken into custody from 215 Sherway Gardens Road, and another man was brought into custody from 225 Sherway Gardens Road. Toronto and Guelph police cruisers were seen outside the buildings.
One man was seen being escorted in handcuffs into Toronto police's 55 Division.
In Vaughan, at least one man was arrested after a group of York Regional Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Toronto Police raided a home at the corner of Louana Crescent and Pinedale Gates Tuesday morning.
More details will be revealed at police press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday in Aurora.
