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Two Indo-Canadians Among Those Busted In $67 Million Drug Bust
Two Indo-Canadians are among 20 men busted in a multi-million dollar drug bust in Ontario. Raids were held at homes in Brampton, Mississauga, Hamilton, Milton, Niagara Falls, Thorold, as well as Etobicoke, Woodbridge and Richmond Hill, which saw Harpal Bhangoo, 42, and Raghbir Shergill Singh, 42, among the 20 men, ranging in age from 24 to 81 years facing charges.
TORONTO – Two Indo-Canadians are among 20 men busted in a multi-million dollar drug bust in Ontario.
The10-month investigation led to a huge $67 million drug ring with 20 men arrested and charged from Brampton, Hamilton, Milton, Niagara Falls, Port Colborne and other Ontario locations.
The drug sting, dubbed “Project Gateway,” saw 175 officers from Peel Police, Niagara Police and the Hamilton-Niagara RCMP, as well as 10 Canada Border Services Agency officers, saw 12 raids on homes and a total of 120 charges so far.
Raids were held at homes in Brampton, Mississauga, Hamilton, Milton, Niagara Falls, Thorold, as well as Etobicoke, Woodbridge and Richmond Hill, which saw Harpal Bhangoo, 42, and Raghbir Shergill Singh, 42, among the 20 men, ranging in age from 24 to 81 years facing charges.
Police say the organized group of drug smugglers were caught in a number of crimes, including:
*Smuggling cocaine from Mexico and Los Angeles into Canada by transport truck and boat across the St. Clair River;
*Operating cocaine extraction labs in Southwest Ontario properties disguising smuggled cocaine;
*Smuggling marijuana from Canada to the United States and other countries internationally by transport truck and registered shipping services;
*Smuggling large amounts of tobacco from the United States into Canada by transport truck;
*Smuggling people across the Niagara River into New York State by boat;
*Possessing stolen cars/trucks and shipping them overseas;
*Firearms possession;
Employing illegal foreign workers to work at cannabis production sites and to clean chain hotels;
*Production of cannabis on a massive scale and smuggled into the United States using transport trucks; and
*Production of illegal cigarettes.
On September 14, further raids scooped up of 3,007 pounds of cannabis worth $3,007,500, 136 grams of cocaine worth $13,630, three handguns, two shotguns, a rifle, 1650 rounds of ammunition, six stolen vehicles and over $467,000 in crime cash.
As a result of Project Gateway, the following charges have been laid:
Raghbir Shergill Singh, 42, of Milton was charged with:
Three counts of conspiracy to import cocaine
Three counts of conspiracy to possess cocaine for trafficking
Taking part in a criminal organization
Possession of crime cash over $5,000
Harpal Bhangoo, 42, of Brampton was charged with:
Two counts of conspiracy to import cocaine
Two counts of conspiracy to possess cocaine for trafficking
Taking part in a criminal organization
Possession of crime cash over $5,000
Jonjel Barbu, 53, of Hamilton was charged with:
Conspiracy to import cocaine
Conspiracy to possess cocaine for trafficking
Davor Perhot, 61, of Niagara Falls was charged with:
Two counts of conspiracy to import cocaine
Two counts of conspiracy to possess cocaine for trafficking
Taking part in a criminal organization
Two counts of conspiracy to export cannabis
Possession of cannabis for trafficking
Possession of oxycodone for trafficking
Possession of crime cash over $5,000 – S. 355(a) CC
Nereo Frank Fogazzi, 81, of Port Colborne was charged with:
Conspiracy to import cocaine
Conspiracy to possess cocaine for trafficking
Taking part in a criminal organization
Ibrahim Hamzic, 43, of Niagara Falls, Ontario was charged with:
Conspiracy to possess cocaine for trafficking
Two counts of possession of oxycodone for trafficking
Possession of crime cash over $5,000
Antoine Balanian, 50, of Niagara Falls was charged with:
Conspiracy to import cocaine
Conspiracy to possess cocaine for trafficking
Ollie Mastronardi, 69, of Leamington was charged with:
Cultivating illicit cannabis
Cultivation of cannabis without authorization
Mark Mastronardi, 43, of Leamington was charged with:
Possession of cannabis for trafficking
Cultivating illicit cannabis
Cultivation of cannabis without authorization
Joseph Spano, 45, of Leamington was charged with:
Possession of cannabis for trafficking
Cultivating illicit cannabis
Cultivation of cannabis without authorization
Daniel Fogazzi, 59, of Woodbridge was:
Charged in the United States in relation to 78 kilograms of cocaine
Itolo Mallozzi, 66, of Woodbridge was charged with:
Three counts of conspiracy to import cocaine
Three counts of conspiracy to possess cocaine for trafficking
Taking part in a criminal organization
Exportation of cannabis
Conspiracy to export cannabis
Conspiracy to smuggle/sell tobacco
Two counts of possession of cannabis resin for trafficking
Providing false statements
Evading compliance
Evading duties and taxes
Illegally importing goods
Attempt to smuggle
Unlawful possession or sale of tobacco products
Anthony Fogazzi, 25, of Woodbridge was charged with:
Committing an offence for a criminal organization
Three counts of conspiracy to export cannabis
Raytcho Kitchoukov, 59, of Etobicoke was charged with:
Conspiracy to import cocaine
Conspiracy to possess cocaine for trafficking
Committing an offence for a criminal organization
Possession of crime cash over $5,000 and seven counts of stolen vehicles
Possession of cocaine for trafficking
Vincent Pileggi, 66 of Richmond Hill was charged with:
Conspiracy to import cocaine
Conspiracy to possess cocaine for trafficking
Commission of an offence for a criminal organization
Knowledge of unauthorized firearm possession
Possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition
Tampering with a firearm serial number
Careless storage of a firearm
Possession of cannabis for trafficking
Possession of crime cash over $5,000
Fawzi Zaid, 28 of Windsor was charged with:
Possession cocaine for trafficking
Mel Rentaria Castro, 48, of Surrey, British Columbia was charged with:
Possession cocaine for trafficking
Mehakdeep Maan, 24, of Brampton was charged with:
Three counts of conspiracy to export cannabis
Commission of an offence for a criminal organization
Fail to comply with a court recognizance
John Mercante, 35, of Binbrook was charged with:
Conspiracy to import cocaine
Conspiracy to possess cocaine for trafficking
Mario Nicastro, 55, of North York was charged with:
Conspiracy to smuggle/sell tobacco
In addition to the Peel Police, Niagara Police, Hamilton-Niagara RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency, several law enforcement agencies worked as part of Project Gateway including: FBI Buffalo International Organized Crime Task Force, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, multiple units from the OPP, Windsor Police, Lasalle Police, Chatham Police, York Police, Gatineau Police, Hamilton Police, Toronto Police and Halton Police.
