Ten arrests have been made and 60 charges laid in relation to 26 armed robberies at pharmacies in Toronto, according to police.
Toronto police Hold Up Squad inspector Rich Harris spoke about the investigation dubbed Project Mayhem Wednesday morning.
Police allege that groups of males traveling in stolen vehicles committed a series of pharmacy robberies between Dec. 2022 and Feb. 2023.
In the incidents, several suspects entered each pharmacy and “committed takeover-style robberies,” according to police.
They would rush in and make demands for both narcotics and cash and in some incidents, they used a handgun, police said. In other cases, they used a knife or physical violence to control any shoppers and employees inside the stores.
In most incidents, they obtained quantities of cash and narcotics and after the robberies, fled to an awaiting vehicle and escaped, police said.
Two of the accused are just 14 years old. The others range in age from 15 to 20 years old.
Police said a total of 10 suspects were arrested on Jan. 24, Jan. 30, Feb. 9 and Feb. 10.
The accused are facing various charges, including robbery with a firearm, robbery with an offensive weapon, disguise with intent and carrying a concealed weapon. A full list of the charges can be found here.
“Toronto Police are concerned not only about the sheer number of violent pharmacy robberies taking place, but also the young ages of those involved,” Harris said. “So far in 2023, there have been 45 robberies, compared to 11 at this time last year. Of those arrested, 67 per cent are young people.”
When asked why such young teens were involved in the robberies, Harris noted this type of crime is “very, very lucrative.”
“There’s a clear demand for prescription narcotics,” he said. “They are lured by the quick money that they can make by returning or selling these prescription narcotics on the street. Intelligence suggests that we’re talking upwards of $60 per pill can be made in some areas.”
In 2021, there was a record number of 124 pharmacy robberies in Toronto. Of those arrested, 69 per cent were under the age of 18.
The news conference about Project Mayhem can be viewed online.
Project Mayhem was organized by Toronto Police Hold Up Squad and was a collaborative multi-jurisdictional investigation with police forces from York Region, Peel, and Halton.
