Durham police arrest 10 people, lay more than 112 criminal charges after undercover probe into guns and drugs
A months-long undercover investigation into illegal firearm and drug trafficking has led to the arrest of 10 suspects, who face more than 100 charges combined, Durham Regional Police say.
The multi-jurisdictional probe, dubbed Project Venture, was launched in November of last year and police say it unearthed a firearm and drug trafficking network that spanned Durham Region, Toronto, and the Region of Waterloo.
Nineteen search warrants were executed at locations in all three regions and a total of 12 firearms were seized, including eight handguns, two rifles, and two shotguns, police said.
According to investigators, four of the weapons came from the U.S., one was stolen during a break-and-enter in Durham Region, and another was traced back to British Columbia. Police said one firearm had an unreadable serial number, two did not have serial numbers, and investigators are still working to confirm the origin of the other guns that were seized.
'Project Venture was an undercover operation,' Det.-Sgt. Brad Corner told reporters at a news conference on Thursday.
'We were targeting a drug trafficker that was operating in our region and through those contacts and dealing with that drug trafficker, we were able to move up the supply chain as well as focus on gun trafficking operation as well.'
A total of 112 charges have been laid in connection with the probe.
Police said 10 suspects were arrested and two remain outstanding. Of the 10 arrested, police said, only three remain in custody.
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