Police arrest 18 tied to organized-crime group peddling drugs

August 27, 2008

By Daina Lawrence, The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - Police say they have shut down an organized-crime operation involved in drug trafficking throughout Ontario and the U.S.

They say an 18-month undercover drug investigation, known as Project Scarecrow, ended Tuesday with the arrest of 18 people. They appeared in provincial court Wednesday.

Staff-Sgt. Pete Gauthier told media the Ottawa-based network was "quite involved." Photographs showed garbage bags filled with marijuana, various firearms and suburban homes identified as marijuana-growing operations.

"Grow-ops continue to be strong in the Ottawa area," said Gauthier, even after police dismantled eight operations in the city this week.

A total of 230 charges have been laid against 27 people in connection with drug trafficking, involvement in organized crime and money laundering.

"This type of crime is not unique to Ontario or Ottawa; it's a problem across the country, so it's about prioritizing your targets and using your resources," said RCMP Insp. Bill Malone.

"If you try to catch all the rabbits you end up catching none," said Malone explaining that targeting a few key players in the drug trade is the most effective way to tackle the problem.

Police say the drug network used parts of the Akwesasne Mohawk community near Cornwall, Ont., to smuggle marijuana between Canada and the United States.

The investigation was part of a joint operation involving the RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police and the Ottawa police.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) joined the investigation in January, targeting the inflow of illegal drugs coming from Canada.

Earlier this month, the DEA broke up an American arm of the organization, saying those involved in the ring had plans to import nearly 100 kilograms of marijuana into Canada over three months.

Money laundering was also said to be a large part of the crime ring. Police seized more than $350,000 in cash.