It’s no secret that in the past decade, drug use has started to get rampant throughout Canada. Not only are there more users each and every day, but with the introduction of Fentanyl and other synthetic drugs, it has led to more deaths and health issues for users. Throughout the month of March, a joint task force of which included the Ontario Provincial Police, York Regional Police, Halton Regional Police, Toronto Police Services, as well as the Canada Border Services Agency have managed to charge 10 individuals in relation to the massive drug smuggling ring.
Project Vegas aimed at tackling the importation of certain drugs to Canada, mainly in Ontario. Drugs were imported from the Middle East and then distributed across Ontario, reaching as far a Manitoba and British Colombia. Not only were imported to Canada, but also other countries as well. The raids in relation to this operation had started at the very beginning of March, when on March 1st, several raids were executed that led to the arrest of 11 individuals.
The seizures resulted in 2,066,000$ worth of drugs as well as a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol. The various drugs seized included; 89.6 kilograms of opium, 13 kilograms of methamphetamine and 310,000$ in cash money. Some of the suspects are expected to have bail while others aren’t.
Ahmed Morid Abedi, a 40 year old man was served with 16 charges, mainly in the means of trafficking and importing drugs. Abdul Farqeerzada, 34, from Georgetown, was charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence with 2 charged of trafficking a controlled substance. Zabiullah Amin, a 56 year old from Melancthon was also charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and trafficking of a controlled substance. Amin was also charged with possession with intent to distribute.
Ahmed Tariq Abedi, 50 years old and from Woodbridge, Ontario, was hit with the same charges as mentioned above, but also 2 counts of exporting a controlled substance. Balraj Brar, 39 and from Mono was charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offense as well as possession of property obtained by crime. Most likely he was the man that had been pinched in the raids with the money. Zulgari Samadi, 37, from Toronto, Aryan Haydari, 38, from Barrie and Ahmed Zubiar Abedi, 33, from Oakville, were also charged with similar offences. The suspects previously mentioned were held for bail hearings.
The last two remaining suspects were charged with lesser offences and were released on the terms that they appear in court when their date is set. This consists of an unnamed suspect, while the second being Fariba Ahmadi, 53, and from Bradford being charged with breach of trust.
