Toronto gang raid

More than 1,000 charges have been laid against 75 members and associates of a Toronto-based gang, after a series of raids this week. Toronto Police believe the arrests have “significantly disrupted “The Five Point Generalz” and today, police showed off their haul.

“This represents the largest single seizure of crime guns in the history of the Toronto Police service.”

Dozens of handguns, bags of narcotics and wads of money. Everything on the table at the news conference today was seized in “Project Patton.” 60 of the 78 firearms were obtained in a single seizure that police say is linked to a cross-border firearms smuggling operation.

Acting Inspector Don Belanger, of the Toronto Police Service, laid out the extent of the seizure, “They were located in the trunk of this individual’s vehicle at he time of his arrest. We were subsequently able to identify the alleged gun suppliers who had purchased the firearms in the state of Florida.”

Even more concerning? Some of these 9-millimeter semi-automatic handguns come in fluorescent colours and patterns, and could be mistaken for toys.

Deputy Chief Jim Ramer said the guns looked uncomfortably familiar. “When I first saw it, I commented that the one in orange looked like a waster pistol that my granddaughter has and how easily that could be misinterpreted by someone looking at them.”

Which could have deadly consequences.

“At one of the residences yesterday, officers located a handgun manufacturing and modification operation that was set up for the purpose of assembling handguns.” said Ramer. “This location contained numerous handgun parts and tools, including a tool press.”

Police say there were enough parts on hand to assemble 4 more handguns. They also seized cash, along with ammunition and $1.2 million in drugs.

“270 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, 75 firearms magazines, plus an additional 55 over-capacity magazines and an extensive quantity of illicit drugs, including cocaine, fentanyl, carfentanil, heroin and marijuana.”

Police believe they’ve arrested the highest-ranking members of the “Five Point Generalz” but they admit “Project Patton” will not put an end to gang activity in Toronto.