Toronto police seize more than $14M in drugs in alleged Ontario crime ring bust

Toronto police say 27 people have been arrested and $14 million worth of drugs have been seizedas part of a probe into an alleged drug trafficking ring in southern Ontario.

Police say they have seized 283 kilograms of "various controlled substances," eight firearms and more than $2.3 million in cash inthejoint forces investigation with York Regional Police and the Canada Border Services Agency.TheLondon Police Service and Six Nations Policeassisted in the probe.

Toronto police Supt.Gordon Sneddonreleased details of the operation, called Project Beyond,at a news conference Thursday.

"What we would be alleging is this has been the work of a criminal organization that has been working in Ontario primarily but, as the project name implies, spreads much further," Sneddon said.

York RegionalPoliceInsp. DieterBoeheim said the alleged crimering was involved in the distribution, trafficking and export of drugs in the Greater Toronto Area,York Region, as well as internationallyin the U.S. and Asia.

"It's substantial," Boeheim said. "The market;it's supply and demand.The supply has just been cut off substantially for the GTA with this group."

Marijuana, crystalmethamphetamine, liquid opiumand other drugs were seized, including 80kilograms of cocaine with a street value of $7.9 million, according to police.

Much of the seized material was displayed at thenews conference, including guns.

"When you look at those types of firearms, they're only built for one purpose,"Sneddon said. "It's killing people."

A 40-year-old Richmond Hill manwas one of the 27 peoplearrested. Police say they believe he is the leader of the alleged crime ring. Boeheim said he has been known to York Regional Police for his alleged involvement in the drug trade for some time. He faces 16 charges including drug trafficking in relation to this arrest, police say.

Police say they are in theprocess of seizing the assets of those arrested in this operation.