A number of businesses in Etobicoke and 12 other municipalities were targeted for police searches as part of an international drug ring that smuggled hundreds of kilos of cocaine and other drugs  into the Toronto area hidden in clothing.

Police said the cocained were soaked into clothing imported from Colombia and then processed in a laboratory to remove the cocaine from the garments so it can be sold when it arrives at its destination.

The OPP said Project Southam was a 15-month investigation that wrapped up this week with the arrest of 22 people from a number of  Greater Toronto area crime groups.

“The GTA-based organized crime groups have been importing high volumes of cocaine into Canada for the purpose of trafficking as well as other criminal activities,” police said in a release.

The OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEAB) said they targeted two groups whose members were working together to smuggle and sell the drugs in the GTA.

“An organized crime group was responsible for importing and trafficking cocaine from Colombia, concealed in textiles,” police alleged. “They would then establish a clandestine laboratory to process the cocaine into a sellable state.”

The groups allegedly conspired to import cocaine from the Caribbean and export cannabis from Canada to the U.S., police said.

Officers said 44 search warrants were executed on July 7 against 25 locations in Toronto, Innisfil, Mississauga, Oakville, Vaughan, Thornhill, Brampton and Ancaster.

Police said businesses were searched in Etobicoke, Vaughan, Hamilton and Mississauga.

The major investigation also involved the Provincial Intelligence Bureau (POIB), York Regional Police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Police during the probe seized 92 kilograms of cocaine; 1 kilogram of methamphetamine; 249 kilograms of illicit cannabis; 1.3 kilograms of psilocybin; 21 litres of gamma-hydroxybutyrate; 980 oxycodone pills; a 5 mm handgun; a bar of silver worth $2,600, $372,000 in Canadian and $7,600 in U.S. funds and seven vehicles.

All the accuseds are before the courts.

 

By DAVE KOSONIC

An abandoned sandwich fast-food outlet has recently become a new home for the return of the Old Mill Pastry & Deli to Etobicoke after an absence of four years.

This family owned and operated business which specializes in eastern European food treats including its prized burek and cevap is welcoming loyal customers and new patrons to 385 The West Mall near the Etobicoke Civic Centre.

“We want to make this a European atmosphere for our customers.” said Skell as he is fondly known by patrons.  He manages the business with back-up from numerous family members. Three generations of his family have kept the place running and humming including grandparents, parents, sons and a daughter. Wilson who is the coveted burek maker and baker is also a key team player at the Old Mill.

Skell explains that the business was started by his father Nazim in a plaza located at Rathburn Road and The East Mall many years ago. His family had to vacate this site soon after it was sold to a developer a few years ago. Much of the plaza was then demolished including the Old Mill restaurant and take-out grocery section.

The family rolled with the punches and re-located the Old Mill near Square One in the interim before returning to Etobicoke. Skell added that it is like coming back to the where the Old Mill all began.

Due to the pandemic business has become restricted to online ordering, in-store grocery and food grab-and-goes and some deliveries via the OLD MILL refrigerated van.  Skell hopes things will continue to loosen up and lead to more in-store activity as COVID restrictions are loosened.  This will allow the return of the scrumptious hot table.

Before the pandemic many patrons with eastern European backgrounds flocked to the Old Mill to dine, laugh, chat and maybe enjoy a couple of cups of freshly brewed Turkish coffee served by Snell’s sister Lulu.

“Everything is homemade. The burek we make attracts people from everywhere,” boasts Skell. He added that they also sell very hard-to-find European foodstuffs including sweets such as Tollumba and certain non-alcoholic beverages.

I have been a loyal customer at the Old Mill for a long time and each visit has resulted in a fun time.  I really like their fresh salads, cabbage rolls and mouth-watering chocolate eclairs.

The servers are always friendly and polite and frequently put an extra portion on your entry as an ‘on the house’ bonus to keep you happy.  No alcoholic beverages are served.

The Old MILL is now mainly dedicated to take-out groceries and food. It is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily but closed on Monday. Please phone 416-519-0064.

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Toronto Police are seeking the help of the public in trying to identify a woman found dead almost four years ago in Lake Ontario near Humber Bay Shores.

Police have released photos and a sketch of the woman who was found on August 10, 2017 in Lake Ontario near Humber Bay Shores.

She is described as white, 44 to 70 years old, 5’4″ to 5’6″, 135 to 150 lbs., with brown eyes and short greyish/dark hair.

She was found wearing a red tank top and navy blue pants. The woman also had healed mammoplasty scars which could possibly be attributed to breast cancer.

Recently the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service and Office of the Chief Coroner, with the assistance of both the Toronto Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police, undertook artist renditions. Hopefully it will help someone recognize her and bring some resolution to both her family and the investigation.

An actual photograph of the woman has also been released and can be found on the Canada Missing Website.

Police said the photograph may be upsetting to some people.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7411, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes or Google Play.