Windsor police arrested nine people and executed 11 search warrants Thursday morning as part of a massive drugs and guns investigation with other police agencies.
Officers have been working with Toronto police and other departments in the operation called 'Project Traveller.'
“The focus of the investigation has been on street gangs, particularly the Dixon Bloods, operating in Toronto, with Windsor connections,” says Windsor police deputy chief Vince Power.
Police say the street gangs have been trafficking firearms into Toronto from the United States at Windsor border crossings.
Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis says he knew about the raids, but he wouldn’t say if it was before or after they took place.
Toronto police Chief Bill Blair says the series of raids in southwestern Ontario has led to the arrest of dozens of suspected drug and gun traffickers and the seizure of large amounts of drugs, weapons and cash.
Blair says 39 search warrants have been executed in the operation, which began in June, 2012, following numerous violent crimes, including murder and attempted murder.
The raids began shortly after 5 a.m., and involved police from multiple jurisdictions including Windsor, Peel, York, Halton, Durham, the RCMP and Ontario Provincial Police as well as police in Edmonton and officers of the Canadian Border Services Agency.
Deputy Chief Mark Saunders says 19 people were arrested this morning in Toronto, adding that to date 43 people have been arrested in the investigation.
Warrants were executed at Windsor residences in the following areas:
1. 1800 block of Slater
2. 1000 block of Bruce Avenue
3. 800 block of Riverside Drive East
4. 1100 block of Ouellette Avenue
5. 1200 block of Central Avenue
6. 1200 block of Labour Cresent
7. 2700 block of Scarsdale
8. 500 block of Partington
9. 800 block of Raymo
10. 600 block of University Avenue West
11. 1100 block of Stoney Brook Cresent
With files from The Canadian Press
