news Toronto police arrest 46 alleged gang members

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Toronto police arrest 46 alleged gang members


34 minutes ago





OTTAWA (AFP) - Toronto police arrested 125 people, including dozens of alleged street gang members, in pre-dawn raids throughout Canada's largest metropolis on Wednesday.

The police sweep involved more than 1,000 officers executing 161 warrants for members of two local street gangs and "people alleged to be responsible for the supply of firearms and illegal drugs to these criminal organizations," said a police statement.
Toronto police chief Bill Blair told a press conference the violence perpetuated by criminal street gangs posed a "significant threat" and "continues to be a major concern.
"The investigation has identified 46 persons who are alleged to be members and associates of the two gangs," he said. "They are now in custody."
The raids also netted 40 guns, including two AK-47 rifles, cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy, crack, 430,000 dollars in cash, and vehicles.
Charges laid included trafficking in firearms and narcotics, attempted murder and gansterism.
Some 900 organized criminal groups operate in Canada, and commit 20 percent of homicides each year, according the justice department.