The high-profile, months-long police investigation aimed at quelling violence in the towing industry in the Toronto area has partially collapsed, leaving six people accused of more than 70 arson, drug and gun crimes to stand trial. .
Called Project Platinum, the operation, led by the York Regional Police, targeted individuals who investigators say were involved in a deadly battle to control the GTA towing industry. The clashes have led to at least four killings, assaults, shootings and the burning of at least 30 trucks, police said.
In May 2020, the YRP announced 19 arrests as part of a joint force investigation in collaboration with Ontario Police, Toronto Police and the Canadian Revenue Agency.
But earlier this month, crown prosecutors dropped charges against six people who were tried as a group.
“The crown surprised everyone”
Police accused the six of being part of a criminal organization involved in drug trafficking, possession of weapons, arson and plotting to kill.
Criminal defense attorney Jag Virk, who represented one of the defendants, told CBC News that the Crown had previously withdrawn several firearms crimes against his client. He said Crown’s lawyers had dropped all other charges against the six defendants two weeks ago in the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket.
“The crown surprised everyone because we were in the middle of pre-trial demands,” Wirk said.
“[My client] he was delighted. He was shocked. He was under strict house arrest, and the fact that his freedom was finally restored after two years is a burden off his shoulders. “
WATCH Police reveal links between organized crime and the towing industry:
Police reveal links between organized crime and the towing industry
Toronto police have drawn the curtain on organized crime in the towing industry. They arrested 20 people, seized heavy drugs and a number of weapons, but the real money seemed to be in costly insurance fraud.
Wirk said the charges were dropped after the judge ordered the Crown to disclose some information about the phone wiretapping order, which was revised in a previous version provided to the defense. The Crown took the position that this would reveal the identity of an informant, Wirk said, and chose to drop the charges instead of revealing the information.
A YRP spokesman said the operation still has the effect of reducing crime and violence in the industry by dismantling a large criminal organization.
“Successful prosecution is not the only measure we use to achieve our community safety goals,” Const said. Laura Nicole wrote in an email.
“We are proud that Project Platinum stopped the significant street violence that plagued our community in the months before the arrests … These efforts have led to a significant reduction in violence in the tow truck industry.”
Nicole added that police are pleased with regulatory changes introduced by the Ontario government last year in response to violence in the truck industry, including a pilot project introducing restricted towing areas on highways and a joint team to tackle violence and fraud in the industry. .
2nd high-profile case to fall apart
The case against the six collapsed for the second time in a year, when a high-ranking investigation led by York’s regional police broke up.
Last February, one of the largest organized crime investigations in Ontario’s history fell apart after police allegedly intercepted phone calls as part of a multimillion-dollar investigation into alleged mafia activity in the Greater Toronto area.
Investigators from the York Regional Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Toronto Police Department and the Canadian Revenue Agency have launched a joint force investigation called Project Platinum in February 2020 in response to killings, attempted murders, assaults, arson, threats and property damage in the region. (York Regional Police)
The operation, called Project Sindacato, has led to charges against nine people in Canada who police say are part of a criminal organization linked to the Italian mafia.
The group has been charged with illegal gambling, fraud, drug trafficking and money laundering through casinos, York’s regional police said. news release issued in July 2019
But prosecutors dropped charges against six of the accused in January 2021 after defense attorneys expressed concerns that investigators had committed “significant violations of the privilege of a lawyer / client.” Three of the accused had previously had their charges dropped in 2020.
“The expectation that every case is perfect is unrealistic,” Const said. Nicole added in a written statement. “We work in an imperfect judiciary. By their nature, these cases are complex and multifaceted. We always are and will always face challenges within the judiciary that may or may not be overcome on a case-by-case basis.”
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