The OPP, Toronto Police and Belleville Police have announced details of an 13-month-long investigation that included the seizure of drugs and weapons in raids on motorcycle clubs and storefronts.
The joint organized crime investigation dubbed ‘Project Coyote’ resulted in 27 arrests in connection with two groups “operating a drug trafficking network in the Belleville and Quinte West area,” police said at a press conference on Thursday. Of those charged, 12 are from Belleville and Trenton. (See below.)
“The harm inflicted by organized crime in our communities knows no boundaries,” said Deputy Chief Chris Barry, Belleville Police Service. “These organizations prey on our most vulnerable citizens through violence and intimidation and profit from inflicted harm. Collaborative investigations such as Project Coyote send a very powerful message to criminals that they will face the combined resources of the entire law enforcement community in order to hold them accountable for their actions.”
He said the commitment and tenacity displayed by the officers involved in the case “will go a long way towards restoring a feeling of safety and security amongst the public.”
“Organized crime in particular outlaw biker gangs and street gangs thrive on violence and intimidation and prey on the most vulnerable members of our society,” he stated.
He noted some local examples of violence that often erupts when there is a battle for control in the drug trade including a homicide that occurred on North Front Street in July 2022, where a young man was gunned down outside a restaurant.
Barry also identified a clubhouse operating on Highway 37 in Belleville along with a downtown business storefront that has now been closed.
In January 2022, the Ontario Provincial Police’s (OPP) Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB), Provincial Operations Intelligence Bureau (POIB) and the Toronto (TPS) and Belleville Police Services (BPS) began an investigation into the trafficking of controlled substances and firearms by Greater Toronto Area (GTA) drug traffickers and members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.
“Street gangs, Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs and other organized crime groups undermine peace and security across our communities,” said – Chief Superintendent Paul Mackey, OCEB, OPP. “They deal in violence and conflict. They launder money. They traffic firearms and people. They hurt our communities. Joint investigations, such as the OPP, Toronto Police Service and Belleville Police Service’s Project Coyote, are critical in dismantling these criminal operations.”
“Criminals and their organizations don’t pay attention to boundaries – so neither should police services,” said Staff Superintendent Paul MacIntyre, Detective Services, Toronto Police Service. “It’s important that investigators work in concert to conduct such investigations to keep our communities safe – no matter what patch we wear on our shirts. The Toronto Police Service was proud to work with the OPP and Belleville Police Service to hold these people accountable, and keep all our communities safer.”
Nine high-risk warrants executed in the GTA on January 18, 2023, resulted in the arrest of 12 individuals. Additional warrants were executed and 15 arrests were made on February 22, 2023. This included three reported members of the Hells Angels and three members of the Red Devils Motorcycle Club.
The results of this investigation include the seizure/restraint of significant amounts of cash, firearms, weapons, and other items including to date:
- One Glock P80 3D printed handgun
- One Ruger 357 (stolen) handgun
- One Taurus 9mm handgun
- One Sig Sauer 380-calibre prohibited handgun
- One SCCY CPX-2 9mm restricted handgun
- Three prohibited sawed-off shotguns
- Three replica handguns
- Two stun guns
- Live ammunition
- Jewelry including two Rolex watches, gold chains and rings with an approximate value of $150,000.00; miscellaneous Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG) jewelry
- Miscellaneous Hells Angels (HA) vests, signage, member list and photos
- Hard and soft body armour
- 10 vehicles
- More than $370,000 in Canadian currency
- Controlled substances in excess of:
- 16 kilograms of cocaine
- 1.5 kilograms of Fentanyl
- 6 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, and an additional 400 crystal methamphetamine pills
- 20 lbs of cannabis, as well as 500 packages of Cannabis edibles and 700 Cannabis edibles
- 500 vape pens and cartridges
- 8 lbs of hashish
- 7 grams of Psilocybin
Police noted that that as evidence collection and the investigation are ongoing, the above totals are subject to change.
The investigation was supported by federal and international partners including Canada Border Services Agency and the US Drug Enforcement Administration. The OPP expresses its appreciation to all of its participating members, both uniform and specialty support units, for their assistance with this investigation.
Police said as this investigation continues, more charges are anticipated. The charges listed in the addendum are accurate as of 10:00 am EST on February 23, 2023.
The 15 parties arrested on February 22nd are to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Belleville on February 23, 2023.
- Nicholas RUNNALLS , 43 of Trenton
1. Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, contrary to section 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code
2. Participation in a Criminal Organization, contrary to Section 467.11(1) of the Criminal Code
3. Commission of offence for a Criminal Organization, contrary Section 467.12(1) of the Criminal Code
4. Instruction in a Criminal Organization, contrary to Section 467.13(1) of the Criminal Code x2
- Jean-Francois LABONTE, 43 of Belleville
1. Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, contrary to section 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code
2. Participation in a Criminal Organization, contrary to Section 467.11(1) of the Criminal Code
3. Commission of offence for a Criminal Organization, contrary Section 467.12(1) of the Criminal Code
4. Firearm Trafficking – contrary to Section 99 of the Criminal Code 5. Trafficking – Schedule I Substance to wit, Cocaine – contrary to Section 5(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
- Nicole WHITMAN, 38 of Belleville
1. Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, contrary to section 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code
2. Participation in a Criminal Organization, contrary to Section 467.11(1) of the Criminal Code
3. Commission of offence for a Criminal Organization, contrary Section 467.12(1) of the Criminal Code
- Mark STEWART, 43 of Belleville
1. Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, contrary to section 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code
2. Participation in a Criminal Organization, contrary to Section 467.11(1) of the Criminal Code
3. Commission of offence for a Criminal Organization, contrary Section 467.12(1) of the Criminal Code
- Steven DICKINSON, 35 of Belleville
1. Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, contrary to section 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code
3. Participation in a Criminal Organization, contrary to Section 467.11(1) of the Criminal Code
3. Commission of offence for a Criminal Organization, contrary Section 467.12(1) of the Criminal Code
4. Trafficking – Schedule I Substance to wit, Cocaine – contrary to Section 5(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act x5
5. Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000 – contrary to Section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code x5
- Mark DUNN, 52 of Belleville
1. Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, contrary to section 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code
2. Participation in a Criminal Organization, contrary to Section 467.11(1) of the Criminal Code
3. Commission of offence for a Criminal Organization, contrary Section 467.12(1) of the Criminal Code
4. Trafficking – Schedule I Substance to wit, Cocaine – contrary to Section 5(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act x3
5. Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000 – contrary to Section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code x3
- Michael RENZI, 41 of Belleville
1. Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, contrary to section 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code
2. Participation in a Criminal Organization, contrary to Section 467.11(1) of the Criminal Code
3. Commission of offence for a Criminal Organization, contrary Section 467.12(1) of the Criminal Code
- Gary BUNTON, 36 in Trenton
1. Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, contrary to section 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code
- Robert PARSONSON, 46 of Trenton
1. Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, contrary to section 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code
- Justin WHITFORD, 24 of Belleville
1. Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, contrary to section 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code
- Ryan HIGGINS MICHAUD, 27 of Belleville
1. Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, contrary to section 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code
2. Fail to comply with a recognizance, contrary to section 145(5)(a) of the Criminal Code
- Alexander VERONEZ, 19 of Trenton
1. Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence, contrary to section 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code x2
2. Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000 – contrary to Section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code
