Largest cocaine seizure in Toronto Police Service history came from Mexican cartel: Chief

Standing before a pile of cocaine that would’ve made Tony Montana blush, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw announced the largest seizure of the drug in the history of the Toronto Police Service on Tuesday.

In total, investigators seized 835 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of $83 million during the months-long joint-forces Project Castillo, which investigators say has put a dent in a notorious Mexican drug cartel and even driven up the price of cocaine due to a sudden shortage.

Toronto police superintendent Paul MacIntyre said Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel is believed to be behind the massive shipments, which were seized at stash houses and at the Canada-U.S. border.

Police said the largest single seizure of 475 kilograms was found in a truck that originated in Mexico, drove through the United States, and crossed the border into Canada before it was stopped and searched.

MacIntyre said Toronto police received information about cocaine being distributed in the Greater Toronto Area last August when someone tried to ship cocaine through a shipping company.

That sparked a more intensive probe that led to police becoming aware of an 18-wheeler that was coming to Canada from Mexico.

“When it crossed into Canada we asked the CBSA, the Mounties, to stop it,” he said. “When it was stopped we seized the drugs.”

From there several search warrants were obtained and hundreds of additional kilograms of cocaine were discovered in stash houses.

MacIntyre said the sheer amount of cocaine that’s been taken off the streets has already had a ripple effect.

“Following this seizure, the street price of cocaine in Canada has increased by 20 per cent, signalling a direct impact on the distribution networks,” he said.

Six suspects, who MacIntyre described as “high-level distributors” are in custody, while three others, one from Niagara Falls and two from Mexico, remain at large.

The following suspects are in custody facing a slew of trafficking charges:

• Jorge Luis Mundo Garcia, 31, and Jimenez Avila Rodolfo, 28, both Mexican Nationals
• Adriana Alexandra Jiron Zeledon, 20, of Markham
• Omar Fair, 37, of Mississauga
• Marlon Matthews, 45, of Mississauga
• Kevin Figueiredo, 32, of Toronto

Arrest warrants have been issued for Alexis Arroyo, 31, and Marco Rivera, 31, both of Mexico, and Robert Nolin, 60, of Niagara Falls, Ont. (pictured below).

“Taking these drugs off our streets prevents violence, protects lives, and dismantles dangerous criminal networks. This impact is only possible through the dedication of our members and the invaluable collaboration of our partners,” said Chief Demkiw.