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.

From the Office of MPP Christine Hogarth.

 

 

The Ontario government is investing more than $157,000 for five projects in Toronto to help protect and improve the Great Lakes.

“Etobicoke-Lakeshore is home to some of the most beautiful shores of Lake Ontario. Through our government’s Great Lakes Local Action Fund, the wonderful non-profit organizations Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, I-Think and A Greener Future will work with communities and residents in Etobicoke-Lakeshore to clean up shores and protect species in Lake Ontario,” said Hogarth, the MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore.

“This is a great initiative to support local projects that protect and restore costal, shoreline and nearshore areas of the Great Lakes.”

These projects are a part of 44 community-based projects to receive $1.9 million in funding through the Great Lakes Local Action Fund.

“The health of the Great Lakes is closely connected to our province’s health and prosperity –supplying water to our communities, sustaining traditional activities of Indigenous peoples and providing healthy ecosystems for recreation and tourism,” said David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

“This funding allows local organizations and groups to take environmental actions in their own communities – building a better future for clean, green growth.”

Hogarth announced further details about the projects benefitting Etobicoke-Lakeshore:

Love Your Lake: A Greener Future received $30,000 to engage communities and conduct 100 litter clean-ups along the shores of Lake Ontario between Niagara-on-theLake and Kingston.

Youth Agency Creating Waves On The Great Lakes: I-Think received $49,996 to enhance ecological and shoreline remediation along nine creeks and rivers in the Lake Ontario watershed through classroom engagement.

Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention: the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters received $27,090 to build community capacity to remove invasive species in the Lake Ontario watershed.

Supporting local actions that protect the Great Lakes is a key commitment in our plan to protect our land, air and water.

 

A man and a woman are dead after being involved in a horrific two-car crash in Etobicoke on Tuesday.

It happened around 4:12 p.m. at Carlingview Drive and Constellation Court in the Dixon Road and Highway 427 area, according to police.

A debris-scattered crash scene police photo shows a black minivan leaning against a broken light pole and a totaled red vehicle propped up against a nearby building.

Police believe excessive speed was likely a factor.

According to Toronto police’s Operations Centre, one of the vehicles hit a pole and flipped over, while the other vehicle went into a building.

One of the victims died at the scene, while the second person died after being rushed to hospital.

Police said road closures in the immediate area will likely last several hours.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene and located two people with “very serious injuries.” They worked to extricate them from the vehicle.

A woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

A second person, who was rushed to hospital by emergency run, died a short time later.

The crash may have also caused a gas leak and some buildings are being evacuated, police said.

Roads near the collision have been off-limits.

Toronto police’s Traffic Services unit is investigating.

Anyone with information should contact police at 416-808-1900, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or 222tips.com.

 

 

One of the longest-serving merchants in Alderwood has seen a lot of changes in the community over the last 50 years.

Guilia Del Vicario, 78, the owner of Guilia’s Clothing and Gifts, moved into her 320 Brown’s Line store in 1973 when it was a two-lane road with a forest still standing on the east side of the roadway.

“There was a forest across from my store,” Del Vicario recalls. “There was a supermarket, butcher shop, hairdressers and the place was busy.”

She remembers her biggest payday was earning $800 on her first day of business.

“That was a lot of money then,” the clothier says. “Back then people did not mind paying for good quality clothing that was well-made and last a long time.”

Del Vicario’s daughter Michelle explained her parents were among a first wave of Italian immigrants who came to Canada and settled in the area.

“My mom’s store was like a social club sometimes.”

“Everyone knew each other back then and they all supported each other.”

Del Vicario would often on a weekend prepare clothing for a person’s funeral, deliver or offer free alterations.

“Things have changed a lot over the years,” she laments. “The people today buy their clothes online without ever touching the material or trying it on. There is little quality and style anymore.”

Her well-made and fashionable childrens’ clothing are made by trained seamstresses often abroad and last for many years.

“The business is still good,” she says. “Some people still want to feel the material and get quality clothing for their children’s christening or baptism.”

Del Vicario is well-known in the Italian Canadian community and has sold clothing to generations of families.

These days she spends a lot of time caring for her husband, Frank , who is suffering from West Nile disease after being bitten by a mosquito while sitting on their porch at home. He now requires 24-hour medical care.

Del Vicario immigrated to Canada in 1961 and settled in the Queensway area. People knew she was a seamstress and there was always a demand for her to sew things for fellow new immigrants. Soon after she required more space and located the store to be close to the community.

She is a good salesperson, who is active and sharp mentally. People constantly stop by to see her latest selections and make a purchase.

Giulia’s Clothing and Gifts can be reached at 416-255-3336. She is now having a 50% sale off all items in the store.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two violent and dangerous thugs are on the run from police for allegedly assaulting and robbing a cabbie in New Toronto.

Toronto Police said the brutal incident occurred on July 17 about 6:30 a.m., near Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Third Street.

Detectives have released the images of two men sought for the robbery.

Police allege the men ordered a taxi and once at their destination they reportedly assaulted and robbed the driver of his property before fleeing in a southbound direction.

The first suspect is described as having a heavy build. He was last seen wearing a black Nike top and a white baseball cap.

The second has a thin build. He was last seen wearing a black sweat top with a multi-coloured Adidas logo on the front.

During this robbery, one of the suspects reportedly indicated he had a gun, police said.

Officers believe these outstanding suspects could be “armed, violent and dangerous,” and are advising anyone who locate them to call 911.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2200, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at 222tips.com.

A man found lying on the ground with gunshot wounds is recovering in hospital after being discovered in the Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Royal York Road area.

Police said the victim was found lying on the ground July 19 around 4:27 p.m. and was rushed to nearby hospital.

His injuries are considered serious but not life threatening.

No description of the suspect has been released.

You are asked to call police if you witnessed the incident.

This is the sixth shooting in the area in the last two months.