The OPP announced today they have seized cocaine worth $250 million dollars on the street in the larges seizure in OPP history.
“The OPP recognize that illegal drugs cause grievous harm and threaten community safety. With the amount of pure cocaine seized during Project HOPE, we’ve stopped many criminals from causing more harm to our communities while removing a quarter of a billion dollars from the criminal economy.” said Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner J.V.N. (Vince) HAWKES
Project HOPE was conducted by the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) and Provincial Operations Intelligence Bureau (POIB) in partnership with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Peel Regional Police, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Gérald Cossette, Director – Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada says “FINTRAC is proud to have provided financial intelligence to assist in this investigation. By working together, we create a hostile environment for those who seek to threaten Canadians or abuse our financial system.”
Police say the investigation revealed three people responsible for importing enormous quantities of cocaine from Argentina were identified and linked to cocaine transported on ocean-going vessels in shipping containers to the Port of Montreal for distribution in Ontario.
The OPP worked with CBSA for several months to identify the containers and locations. Subsequent investigation identified links to various caches of cocaine at a CBSA warehouse, at the Port of Montreal and in Stoney Creek, Ontario according to police.
Luis Enrique KARIM-ALTAMIRANO, aged 52 years of Vaughan was charged on May 1, 2017 with
- Importation of a Controlled Substance Schedule 1 – Cocaine (Section 6(1) Controlled Drug and Substances Act (CDSA);
- Possession of a Controlled Schedule 1 Substance – Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking (Section 5(2) CDSA); and,
- Drive While Disqualified (Section 259(4) Criminal Code).
Mauricio Antonio MEDINA-GATICA, aged 36 years of Brampton was charged on May 1, 2017 with:
- Importation of a Controlled Substance Schedule 1 – Cocaine (Section 6(1) CDSA); and,
- Possession of a Controlled Substance Schedule 1 – Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking (Section 5(2) CDSA).
He has since been released on bail.
Iban OROZCO-LOMELI, aged 45 years of Toronto, was charged on July 10, 2017 with
- Importation of a Controlled Substance Schedule 1 – Cocaine (Section 6(1) CDSA); and,
- Possession of a Controlled Schedule 1 Substance – Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking (Section 5(2) CDSA).
He has since been released on bail.
