http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-drug-seizure-1.3803119
Toronto police announced "the largest single seizure" of powder cocaine in the city Thursday, after a six-week investigation that has resulted in multiple charges against a Toronto man.
Acting Insp. Steve Watts of the force's drug squad announced the drug seizure and arrest at Toronto Police Services headquarters Thursday morning.
Police seized 73 kilograms of powder cocaine, 12 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and eight kilograms of MDMA, or ecstasy, Watts said.
The street value of all the drugs is just under $9 million, Watts said. That's $7.3 million in cocaine, $1.2 million in crystal meth and just under $500,000 in MDMA.
"This is the largest single seizure of powder cocaine" in the city, Watts told reporters.
Police found some of the drugs while conducting a search warrant at the accused's residence in the McCowan and Ellesemere roads area on Wednesday, he said.
A search of the man's car, which had a "trap," or a custom-built hidden compartment behind a seat, turned up the rest of the drugs, he said, adding that the accused was pulled over while driving, but would not say where.
Watts would not say what led police to launch their investigation, or the specific investigative techniques they used before executing their search warrant. He did say that the accused does not have a criminal record.
He also said that it is "rare" for so much product to be found with one person.
"In the drug business, in the drug culture, if you are entrusted with this amount of product or this amount of controlled substances, then you are at a very high level due to the financial and the nature of the substance," Watts said.
He would not say whether the accused is part of a larger drug organization, but said that typically, large drug seizures are connected to a wider criminal conspiracy.
The drugs were not headed to the east or west coasts, according to Watts, but were intended for the Toronto market.
4 drug charges
Police arrested and charged Nicholas Shouldice, 32, of Toronto with:
Two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking for cocaine.
Possession for the purpose of trafficking for MDMA.
Possession for the purpose of trafficking for crystal meth.
He was scheduled to appear in court at Old City Hall on Thursday morning.
According to Watts, the investigation is ongoing, but he would not say whether police have identified more suspects in this case.
Toronto police announced "the largest single seizure" of powder cocaine in the city Thursday, after a six-week investigation that has resulted in multiple charges against a Toronto man.
Acting Insp. Steve Watts of the force's drug squad announced the drug seizure and arrest at Toronto Police Services headquarters Thursday morning.
Police seized 73 kilograms of powder cocaine, 12 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and eight kilograms of MDMA, or ecstasy, Watts said.
The street value of all the drugs is just under $9 million, Watts said. That's $7.3 million in cocaine, $1.2 million in crystal meth and just under $500,000 in MDMA.
"This is the largest single seizure of powder cocaine" in the city, Watts told reporters.
Police found some of the drugs while conducting a search warrant at the accused's residence in the McCowan and Ellesemere roads area on Wednesday, he said.
A search of the man's car, which had a "trap," or a custom-built hidden compartment behind a seat, turned up the rest of the drugs, he said, adding that the accused was pulled over while driving, but would not say where.
Watts would not say what led police to launch their investigation, or the specific investigative techniques they used before executing their search warrant. He did say that the accused does not have a criminal record.
He also said that it is "rare" for so much product to be found with one person.
"In the drug business, in the drug culture, if you are entrusted with this amount of product or this amount of controlled substances, then you are at a very high level due to the financial and the nature of the substance," Watts said.
He would not say whether the accused is part of a larger drug organization, but said that typically, large drug seizures are connected to a wider criminal conspiracy.
The drugs were not headed to the east or west coasts, according to Watts, but were intended for the Toronto market.
4 drug charges
Police arrested and charged Nicholas Shouldice, 32, of Toronto with:
Two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking for cocaine.
Possession for the purpose of trafficking for MDMA.
Possession for the purpose of trafficking for crystal meth.
He was scheduled to appear in court at Old City Hall on Thursday morning.
According to Watts, the investigation is ongoing, but he would not say whether police have identified more suspects in this case.
