Two dozen firearms seized in police operation
In bars, restaurants and hotel parking lots across Ottawa, undercover police officers have been buying guns on the black market as part of a sweeping project to dismantle illegal firearm trafficking networks.
In full view of the public, officers made straight exchanges of cash for guns, often concealed in nothing more than plastic or canvas bags.
Ottawa police revealed Friday the haul from their six-month police operation called “Project Sabotage” — 24 firearms in total and 16 people charged with more than 300 drug and gun crimes. It’s the largest gun seizure in recent history for the force.
Chief Charles Bordeleau called the result a “disturbing reminder of the types of weapons that are available for sale and in the hands of criminals.”
The project, led by the guns and gangs unit, began this summer and culminated with the takedown of police targets in a series of pre-dawn raids Thursday at 14 different addresses across the region. Undercover officers bought 11 guns and police seized 13 more on Thursday.
The cornerstone of the whole investigation was a police agent — a paid undercover operator who infiltrated and accessed the trafficking networks.
That agent is now safe, said antigang unit Staff Sgt. Tim Hodgins. The agent is a compellable witness and is expected to testify at court.
The number of guns seized by cops was outdone only by the different types that were seized.
One of the guns was fitted with a bump stock — an attachment that allows a semi-automatic rifle to fire faster. A bump-stock equipped long gun was one of the weapons used by a shooter in the Las Vegas massacre earlier this year.
The gun that police seized was made to order for undercover cops by their alleged gun dealers, a reality Hodgins said was concerning.
Two of the weapons seized had been stolen from homes in Ottawa before they were put on the black market for sale.
Several of the seized firearms were long guns, but police were particularly proud of the handgun seizures — the weapon of choice for gang members in the city.
Police, too, confiscated revolvers, which they believe are being used specifically because they don’t eject casings. In several shooting investigations this year, police believe shots were fired but were unable to find casings at the scenes.
Alongside the guns, police found drugs, which proves that both illegal trades are inextricably linked, Bordeleau said.
They made undercover buys of 75 fentanyl patches, and seized an additional 20 patches and 880 fentanyl pills. In total, police recovered nearly 3,000 opioid pills and almost a pound of cocaine. The raids also turned up a hydraulic drug press and cash.
Thirteen of the 16 people charged were apprehended by police, and three are still wanted on arrest warrants.
“There are no defined leaders in that group,” Hodgins said. “They have all associations within their own networks.”
Yet there are affiliations with outlaw motorcycle gangs and Ottawa street gangs.
Detectives charged Denis Carriere, 42 — an identified hanger-on, or probationary member, of the Red Devils, a Hells Angels puppet club.
Miles Kempffer-Hossack, 20, who was charged with 29 gun crimes, is believed by police to be a supporter of the Hells Angels. Police found outlaw motorcycle paraphernalia in their raid of his home. Both of those men are from Gatineau.
Others are well-known to the city’s anti-gang officers. Abdulaziz “AZ” Al-Enzi, 30, his brother Adel “Porkchop” Al-Enzi — who was shot on Boxing Day 2014 at Tanger Outlets mall — and their associate Ozair “OZ” Rehman — the brother of convicted killer Mutiur Rehman, were all charged in the project.
If the project succeeded in its goal to sabotage the criminal element in Ottawa, it also came with a message.
“If you’re a drug dealer or a gun trafficker in this city connected to gang activity, please understand that eventually the guns and gangs unit will come through the door while you’re sleeping,” warned Sgt. Josh Pulfer, who led the project with Det. Brandi Fraser.
Police charged Mishaal Alshammiry, 29, Denis Carriere, 42, and Miles Kempffer-Hossack, 20, all of Gatineau, and Ottawa residents Fahim Sayeed, 22, Anthony Prest-Guido, 23, Akada Bruce, 40, Abdulazziz Al-Enzi, 30, Nima Saberi, 28, Tarentino Dacosta, 24, Dominik Montigiraud, 25, Osman Kassar, 28, Nick Menard, 25, Ozair Rehman, 26, and Adel Al-Enzi, 24.
Two others were arrested and released on promises to appear in court. syogaretnam@postmedia.com twitter.com/shaaminiwhy