Four Also Charged With Stealing From Passenger Luggage

The Toronto Airport Drug Enforcement Unit (TADEU) arrested and charged eight people with drug related offenses Thursday for the importation, exportation and trafficking of approximately 85 pounds of ecstasy tablets, about six pounds of cocaine, 8 pounds of marijuana and $106,000 cash.

Police are alleging this group had members of their criminal network working at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (TLBPIA) who were able to utilize their positions to facilitate the movement of drugs and money between Canada and the United States.

The US Department of Homeland Security Immigration Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency were partners in the investigation code named Project OCOOK, said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

As a result of their participation, seizures of ecstasy originating from Canada were made in Atlanta, Houston and Hartford. Assistance was also received from Kitchener RCMP and Waterloo Regional Police Service in the arrest of targets that were distributing cocaine locally.

The project also resulted in four TLBPIA airport employees being charged with theft related offenses by Peel Regional Police. These individuals worked for two separate companies at TLBPIA and are alleged to have been stealing personal items from traveler's luggage as well as electronic goods from cargo shipments. One of these accused has also been charged with conspiracy to import cocaine.

"This investigation highlights the threat that criminal organizations can impose on the air industry and the traveling public", stated Supt. Ron Allen, Officer in Charge of the Greater Toronto Area Drug Section.

"There is a large volume of passenger and cargo traffic traversing through TLBPIA on a daily basis which presents opportunity for organized crime groups to exert their influence to facilitate the movement of illegal commodities.

This issue has long been a concern for the enforcement agencies that are part of TADEU and they continue to be committed to working with Canadian and U.S. partners as well as the private sector within TLBPIA to lower the risk that criminal networks have on Canada's largest airport."

All those arrested in Canada will appear in Brampton Court.

TADEU is comprised of law enforcement personnel from the RCMP, Peel Regional Police, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Toronto Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police.

FMI: www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca, www.gtaa.com/en