A grenade and machine gun were among the weapons seized by police during an investigation into trafficking of firearms and illegal drugs in the Greater Toronto Area.
Several Ontario residents are facing numerous charges.
In April, the Office of the fight against organized crime (BLCO) launched an investigation, the RENNER project, targeting an organized criminal group that produced firearms restricted and untraceable by unregulated parts. Illegal firearms manufactured by the group were intended for mass distribution to multiple criminal cells in Ontario says an OPP news release.
At a news conference today, Rick Barnum, OPP Deputy Commissioner unveiled details of the investigation and the evidence seized during the operation, which lasted eight months.
The project was conducted by the Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit of (UPCA) Provincial Police. More than 400 police officers participated in the execution of 39 search warrants at the end of last week in the Greater Toronto Area.
It resulted in the seizure of 14 handguns, six long guns, including a machine gun and an assault rifle, multiple weapons and devices prohibited, including grenades, an electric gun and bullet-proof vests, 1.2 kg of cocaine, 30 grams of methamphetamine, 13 grams of heroin, 66 Fentanyl tablets and $85,000 in Canadian dollars. In addition, four vehicles and residential property were seized as offense-related property.
As part of a parallel investigation, police seized three kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl kilogram.
Provincial police charged 23 people.
The accused are in custody and are expected to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in the near future.