NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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Investigators with the York Regional Police Hold-Up Unit have charged 17 people, seized 15 firearms and have dismantled a gun and drug trafficking ring that was discovered following an investigation into a 2019 home invasion robbery in the City of Vaughan.
Dubbed Project Stanley, the investigation began on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, when York Regional Police were called to a residence on Colombo Crescent in Vaughan for a report of a home invasion robbery. A 26-year-old male victim suffered injuries after he was assaulted by the suspects. On March 24, 2020, investigators released video of the home invasion, as well as images of suspects and vehicles. The video can still be viewed here.
As the investigation continued, the crowbar that was seen in the video of the home invasion was identified as being unique and only sold at one retailer. As a result, multiple suspects were identified, some of whom were also believed to be involved in trafficking firearms and cocaine.
On Saturday, April 25, 2020, York Regional Police, with the assistance of the Greater Sudbury Police Service, executed a search warrant at a residence, which resulted in the seizure of a loaded handgun as well as a quantity of cocaine and fentanyl. On Tuesday, March 24, Wednesday, May 13 and Thursday, May 14, 2020, a series of search warrants were executed across the Greater Toronto Area with the assistance of the Durham Regional Police Service, the Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police, the Hamilton Police Service, the Halton Regional Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police.
As a result of this investigation, 17 people have been charged and 15 guns seized, along with quantities of cocaine, fentanyl and currency.
Det. Ryan Boulay of the Hold-Up Unit is the lead investigator on Project Stanley. He speaks to the investigation in a video that also contains film of the seizure. It is available for viewing here.
For a list of those charged, please click here.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Hold-Up Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6631, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, leave an anonymous tip online.
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