(WINDSOR, ON) – Ten people face numerous charges following a multi-jurisdiction investigation into the importation and distribution of illegal guns into Ontario from the United States.
Project KIRBY began in March 2015 when members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB), Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit (PWEU) initiated an investigation into the criminal activities involving several residents of Windsor and Essex County, specifically the importation and sale of illegal firearms between Michigan and Ontario. Project KIRBY involved Essex County OPP, Windsor Police Service, Canada Border Services Agency, United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and Explosives [ATF] and London Police Service.
At a news conference today, OPP Detective-Inspector James SMYTH and representatives from the project’s partner agencies unveiled details of the investigation and photos of the evidence seized during the nearly 12-month probe.
Last month, eight search warrants were executed at locations in Essex County, Windsor and London. Police seized eight prohibited weapons (seven handguns and one Tech-9 machine gun), two kilograms of cocaine, various drug trafficking packaging and paraphernalia, $67,000 in Canadian currency and $10,500 in American currency, and three vehicles as offence related property.
As a result, police have charged 10 people with 111 offences including charges relating to the Criminal Code of Canada, the Controlled Drug and Substances Act (CDSA), and Proceeds of Crime. One person remains at large in Canada and is believed to be in either Windsor or the Greater Toronto area. A second person, a United States citizen residing in Michigan, is also wanted. Several of the accused persons have already appeared at Ontario Courts of Justice at various times and dates.
