Joint police action results in 20 arrests of individuals accused of drug smuggling and human trafficking

In the fall of 2021, investigators from the Hamilton-Niagara Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS), Peel Regional Police (PRP) and the commenced a joint investigation dubbed "Project Gateway". "Project Gateway" was supported through funding provided by the Government of Ontario, Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario.

The 10-month investigation identified that this organized group was engaged in a number of alleged criminal enterprises including:

• Conspiring to smuggle cocaine from Mexico and Los Angeles into Canada by transport truck (via various ports of entry) and boat across the St. Clair River;
• Operating cocaine extraction labs in rural properties located in South-Western Ontario designed to transform smuggled cocaine from an altered state (used to conceal the substance) to powder cocaine for resale;
• Smuggling cannabis and cannabis derivatives 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. Some of the smuggled tobacco was kept in Canada while some was smuggled overseas from Canada;
• Smuggling people across the Niagara River into New York State by boat;
• Possessing stolen vehicles 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.

Over the last 10 months, a variety of seizures were made while collecting evidence relating to alleged smuggling activities. Some of these seizures included the following:

• A shipment of cannabis weighing 339.5 lbs that was destined for Europe. (estimated value of $1,356,000.00 CDN);
• 22 skids of undeclared tobacco with an approximate weight of 33,000 lbs. (estimated value of $230,000);
• 45,000 cannabis plants and over 20,000 lbs. of processed cannabis (estimated value of $62,792,000.00);
• 80 Kilograms of cocaine (valued at approximately $3,200,000.00) was seized by authorities in Canada and the United States.

On September 14, 2022, the active joint project came to a conclusion with the execution of search warrants in various locations throughout the Province on Ontario. The search warrants were executed with the assistance of approximately 175 police officers from police agencies across Southern Ontario and 10 CBSA/Immigration officers.

The totality of the investigation and the warrants that were executed in Brampton, Milton, Niagara Falls, Thorold, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Woodbridge, Richmond Hill and Hamilton resulted in numerous charges laid against several individuals, along with the seizure of 3,007.5 lbs. of cannabis (valued at $3,007,500), 136.3 grams of cocaine (valued at $13,630), 3 handguns, 2 shotguns, a rifle, 1650 rounds of ammunition, 6 stolen vehicles and over $467 000 in currency.

As a result of Project Gateway, the following charges have been laid:

69-year-old Ollie Mastronardi of Leamington, Ontario:

• Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Distribution - S. 9(2) Cannabis Act
• Cultivate Cannabis from a Seed or Plant Material, knowing it was illicit - S. 12(4)(a) Cannabis Act
• Cultivation of Cannabis Without Authorization - Cultivate not in a Dwelling House - S. 12(6)(a) Cannabis Act

43-year-old Mark Mastronardi of Leamington, Ontario:

• Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Distribution - S. 9(2) Cannabis Act
• Cultivate Cannabis from a Seed or Plant Material, knowing it was illicit - S. 12(4)(a) Cannabis Act
• Cultivation of Cannabis Without Authorization - Cultivate not in a Dwelling House - S. 12(6)(a) Cannabis Act

45-year-old Joseph Spano of Leamington, Ontario:

• Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Distribution - S. 9(2) Cannabis Act
• Cultivate Cannabis from a Seed or Plant Material, knowing it was illicit - S. 12(4)(a) Cannabis Act
• Cultivation of Cannabis Without Authorization - Cultivate not in a Dwelling House - S. 12(6)(a) Cannabis Act

59-year-old Daniel Fogazzi of Woodbridge, Ontario:

• Charged in the United States in relation to 78 kilograms of cocaine

66-year-old Itolo Mallozzi of Woodbridge, Ontario:

• Conspiracy to Import Cocaine - S. 465(1)(c) CC x 3 counts
• Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking - S. 465(1)(c) CC x 3 counts
• Commission of an Offence for a Criminal Organization - S. 467.12(1) CC
• Exportation of Cannabis - S. 11 Cannabis Act
• Conspiracy to Export Cannabis - S. 11(1) Cannabis Act
• Conspiracy to Smuggle Tobacco/Sell Tobacco - S. 465(1)(c) CC
• Possession for Purposes of Distributing Cannabis resin - S. 9(2) Cannabis Act x 2 counts
• False Statements - S. 153(a) Customs Act
• Evade Compliance - S. 153(c) Customs Act
• Evade Duties and Taxes - S. 153(c) Customs Act
• Illegally Imported Goods - S. 155 Customs Act
• Attempt to Smuggle - S. 159 Customs Act
• Unlawful Possession or Sale of Tobacco Products - S. 32(1) Excise Act 2001

42-year-old Raghbir Shergill Singh of Milton, Ontario:

• Conspiracy to Import Cocaine - S. 465(1)(c) CC x 3 counts
• Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking - S. 465(1)(c) CC x 3 counts
• Commission of an Offence for a Criminal Organization - S. 467.12(1) CC
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000 - S. 355(a) CC

42-year-old Harpal Bhangoo of Brampton, Ontario:

• Conspiracy to Import Cocaine - S. 465(1)(c) CC x 2 counts
• Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking - S. 465(1)(c) CC x 2 counts
• Commission of an Offence for a Criminal Organization - S. 467.12(1) CC
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000 - S. 355(a) CC

53-year-old Jonjel Barbu of Hamilton, Ontario:

• Conspiracy to Import Cocaine - S. 465(1)(c) CC
• Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking - S. 465(1)(c) CC

35-year-old John Mercante of Binbrook, Ontario:

• Conspiracy to Import Cocaine - S. 465(1)(c) CC
• Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking - S. 465(1)(c) CC

60-year-old Davor Perhot of Niagara Falls, Ontario:

• Conspiracy to Import Cocaine - S. 465(1)(c) CC x 2 counts
• Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking - S. 465(1)(c) CC x 2 counts
• Commission of an Offence for a Criminal Organization - S. 467.12(1) CC
• Conspiracy to Export Cannabis - S. 465(1)(c) CC x 2 counts
• Possession for the Purpose of Distributing (Cannabis) - S. 9(2) Cannabis Act
• Possession of a Schedule I Substance (oxycodone) for the Purpose of Trafficking - S. 5(2) CDSA
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000 - S. 355(a) CC

25-year-old Anthony Fogazzi of Woodbridge, Ontario:

• Commission of an Offence for a Criminal Organization - S. 467.12(1)CC
• Conspiracy to Export Cannabis - S. 465(1)(c) CC x 3 counts

81-year-old Nereo Frank Fogazzi of Port Colborne, Ontario:

• Conspiracy to Import Cocaine - S. 465(1)(c) CC
• Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking - S. 465(1)(c) CC
• Commission of an Offence for a Criminal Organization - S. 467.12(1)CC

43-year-old Ibrahim Hamzic of Niagara Falls, Ontario:

• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking a Schedule 1 Substance (cocaine) - S. 5(2) CDSA
• Possession of a Schedule I Substance (oxycodone) for the Purpose of Trafficking - S. 5(2) CDSA x 2 counts
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5000 - S. 355(a) CC

58-year-old Raytcho Kitchoukov of Etobicoke, Ontario:

• Conspiracy to Import Cocaine - S. 465(1)(c) CC
• Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking - S. 465(1)(c) CC
• Commission of an Offence for a Criminal Organization - S. 467.12(1) CC
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000 - S. 355(a) CC x 7 counts (stolen vehicles)
• Possession of a Schedule I Substance (cocaine) for the Purpose of Trafficking - S. 5(2) CDSA
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000 - S. 355(a) CC

66-year-old Vincent Pileggi of Richmond Hill, Ontario:

• Conspiracy to Import Cocaine - S. 465(1)(c) CC
• Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking - S. 465(1)(c) CC
• Commission of an Offence for a Criminal Organization - S. 467.12(1) CC
• Firearm - Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession - S. 92(1)(b) CC
• Possession of a Prohibited Firearm with Ammunition - S. 95(1)(b) CC
• Firearm - Tampering with Serial Number - S. 108(1) CC
• Careless Storage of a Firearm - 86(1) CC
• Possession for the Purpose of Distributing (Cannabis) - S. 9(2) Cannabis Act
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000 - S. 355(a) CC

50-year-old Antoine Balanian of Niagara Falls, Ontario:

• Conspiracy to Import Cocaine - S. 465(1)(c) CC
• Conspiracy to Possess Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking - S. 465(1)(c) CC

28-year-old Fawzi Zaid of Windsor, Ontario:

• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking a Schedule I Substance (cocaine) - S. 5(2) CDSA

48-year-old Mel Rentaria Castro of Surrey, British Columbia:

• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking a Schedule I Substance (cocaine) - S. 5(2) CDSA

24-year-old Mehakdeep Maan of Brampton, Ontario:

• Conspiracy to Export Cannabis - S. 465(1)(c) CC x 3 counts
• Commission of an Offence for a Criminal Organization - S. 467.12(1) CC
• Fail to Comply with a Recognizance - S. 145 CC

55-year-old Mario Nicastro of North York, Ontario:

• Conspiracy to Smuggle Tobacco/Sell Tobacco - S. 465(1)(c) CC

In addition to the NRPS, PRP and RCMP, several law enforcement agencies worked in collaboration throughout the duration of Project Gateway including: Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), FBI Buffalo International Organized Crime Task Force (BIOCTF), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, multiple Units/Sections from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Windsor Police Service, Lasalle Police Service, Chatham Police Service, York Regional Police, Gatineau Police Service, Hamilton Police Service, Toronto Police Service and Halton Police Service.

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