Project Alias graphic detailing the investigation’s findings (Provided/Ontario Provincial Police)
A sweeping gun-and-drug investigation that led to hundreds of charges against 11 men shows the community needs to invest more in young people, London’s police chief said Thursday.
In a press conference held at RBC Place London, London police and Ontario Provincial Police revealed the results from ‘Project Alias’, a one-year-long initiative that investigated gun and drug trafficking.
Police said investigators identified multiple criminal networks allegedly capable of sourcing illegal firearms, high-capacity magazines, as well as large quantities of cocaine and fentanyl.
Seven of the accused men are Londoners in their early 20s, most of them 20 to 24.
“Our organization is understanding the drivers and the root causes of youth violence, gun violence, drug trafficking, gangs, all of that,” said Truong. “We prioritize working with youth, trying to show them pathways that fall outside the criminal underworld, and we’re doing our best to create general and specific relationships with these youths.”
$64,000 cash, high-end jewelry, and suspected drugs (Lexi Saldana/XFM News)
The investigation revealed the seizure of 31 guns, 25 prohibited devices, including over-capacity magazines and auto switches, 4.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine, 12.5 kilograms of suspected fentanyl, prescription pills, $64,000 in cash, two vehicles, high-end jewelry and electronic devices.
Police said the seized drugs have an estimated street value of $2 million, and the illegal firearms confiscated were traced back to the source in the United States, including the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, Ohio and Virginia.
“Project Alias focused not only on removing dangerous crime guns from the hands of criminals but on investigating those responsible for bringing these illegal firearms into Canada,” said OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique.
“Seizing this quantity of fentanyl has undoubtedly prevented overdoses and saved lives.”
Truong is focusing on helping younger people by creating a youth advisory council to give them a direct voice in policing and in the London community.
Among the 11 individuals facing charges, seven reside in London, with the rest from Toronto, North York, and Stoney Creek. Nine have already been arrested, with arrest warrants issued for the other two. Four people have been released on bail, including three London residents.
