Toronto police have seized more than $30 million worth of drugs and made multiple arrests in a months-long drug investigation.
On Wednesday, investigators announced the results of Project Cerro from Toronto Police Headquarters.
The news comes nearly three months after police seized almost $60 million worth of drugs in the force’s largest single-day drug bust ever, Project Zafiro.
“They (drug seizures) are getting bigger. It speaks to the cross-border issues. Whether you’re involving firearms, whether you’re involving controlled substances,” Superintendent Steve Watts of Organized Crime Enforcement said at the news conference.
“…But it’s also due to the quality of our investigators and in essence the work that’s being put in to address this issue,” he added.
Back in June 2022, members of the Toronto Police Service Drug Squad conducted an investigation into the illegal importation of cocaine and crystal methamphetamine.
Watts said three suspects were arrested, but further investigations were needed, which prompted the beginning of Project Cerro in Oct. 2022.
On Jan. 17 2023, officers executed 15 search warrants in Toronto, including at seven condominiums, which are alleged to be “stash houses,” and on seven vehicles.
Investigators say trap furniture used to conceal contraband was located at two of those residences.
The search warrants led to the seizure of:
- 20 kilograms of cocaine
- 3.8 kilograms of fentanyl
- 364 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine
- four firearms
- over $500,000 in Canadian Currency
- seven motor vehicles, including a stolen 2022 Land Rover Range Rover (estimated value $150,000.00)
The total street value of drugs seized was $32 million, according to police.
Watts says four suspects from Toronto were subsequently arrested.
Paul Lelutiu, 35, Troy Anthony Robinson, 40, 39-year-old Manasinh Jittavong and Soheil Baharloo, 34, are all facing a number of charges.
Jittavong and Baharloo are set to appear in court on Feb. 2, while Robinson is scheduled to appear on Feb. 13, and Lelutiu is scheduled for March 14.
