ONTARIO-Police say twenty illegal firearms and 73 kilograms of illicit drugs have been seized by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-led Provincial Joint Forces Guns and Gangs Enforcement Team (PGNG).
The OPP-led PGNG assisted the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) Organized Crime Division with a drug trafficking investigation that identified large quantities of cocaine transported between Toronto and Montréal and the surrounding area according to police.
“By working in partnership with law enforcement in Québec, the OPP-led PGNG has disrupted the movement of controlled substances interprovincially. We will continue to work together to hold individuals responsible for drug and firearm trafficking.” said Detective Inspector Lee Fulford, OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau.
On March 27, 2024, PGNG executed two search warrants on a vehicle and a residence on Ridelle Avenue in Toronto. Police say the following items were seized:
· Approximately 60 kilograms of cocaine
· Approximately 13 kilograms of methamphetamine
· 20 firearms including 19 handguns and one assault rifle
· 3,000 rounds of ammunition
· 53 magazines
· Four drum magazines
· 66 Glock auto switches (used to convert to automatic firearms)
· Three bulletproof vests
· One ballistic helmet
35-year-old Bradley Nelson from Whitby was arrested in Toronto by PGNG. The accused has been charged with a total of 68 charges under the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act including:
· Unauthorized possession of a firearm – 20 counts
· Unauthorized possession of a firearm knowing it is unauthorized – 20 counts
· Possession for the purpose of trafficking firearms – 19 counts
· Possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order – two counts
· Possession of a prohibited device – two counts
· Careless storage of a firearm
· Trafficking of a controlled substance, cocaine
· Trafficking of a controlled substance, methamphetamine
· Possession for the purpose of trafficking, cocaine
· Possession for the purpose of trafficking, methamphetamine
The accused was held in custody and will appear before an Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto on May 2, 2024.
The Toronto Police Service’s 13 Division Major Crime Unit provided assistance essential to this investigation’s successful outcome. The Toronto Police Service is actively involved in the OPP-led PGNG, working collaboratively to support and enhance the team’s efforts.
