Police seize 60 kg of cocaine and heroin bound for GTA

TORONTO — Police say they’ve made six arrests and seized 25 firearms and more than 60 kilograms of drugs in an investigation in the Toronto area.

Investigators allege two groups were receiving cocaine and heroin that was being imported into the Greater Toronto Area from the United States.

Acting Insp. Steve Watts says the drugs — including 52 kilograms of cocaine and 7.4 kilograms of heroin — were brought over the border in tractor trailers.

Watts alleges the accused also had so-called “trap cars” — specially modified vehicles with compartments to hide drugs, guns and cash.

He says the investigation — dubbed Project Switch — began in February and involved the RCMP, Canada Border Services Agency, provincial police, and the York and Peel regional police.

Investigators say 11 search warrants were executed in Toronto and the nearby communities of Holland Landing, Mississauga, Concord and Woodbridge.

The seized firearms — nine handguns and 16 rifles — belong to one of the accused, Watts told a news conference on Thursday.

“All of these firearms are non-restricted and/or registered,” Watts said.

“We allege that at least one of the firearms was in very close proximity to large quantities of controlled substances (in a vehicle),” he said, calling it a “dangerous combination.”

Watts said more than $287,000 in cash, a house worth more than $1.3 million and nine vehicles, at least two of which had hidden compartments, also were seized.

“It’s good business sense — you don’t keep large amounts of product and money together,” he said, noting drug dealers may have vehicles that just carry cash and others that carry drugs.

In addition to the cocaine and heroin, the seized drugs included MDMA and hashish oil, which Watts said was all to be sold in the Toronto area.