York Regional Police have detailed what they claim is their largest organized crime bust ever in Vaughan, Ontario, which is just north of Toronto. The operation was titled Project Sindacato, and saw 500 officers seize 23 mafia-owned vehicles, 11 mafia-owned gaming halls, and 27 mafia-owned homes. The total value of seized materials is 35 million Canadian dollars (roughly around $26 million), while 48 warrants were executed upon.
"These arrests signify the fall of power for the most significant 'Ndrangheta crime family operating in York region," Chief Eric Jolliffe said of the operation. Charges for those arrested include tax evasion and money laundering. Nine members of the Figliomeni crime family were arrested in total, and they were found to have ties to Italy's long-running 'Ndrangheta crime family.
15 people were arrested in the investigation, which also helped assist Italian authorities make an arrest in connection with a homicide investigation. The majority of the Figliomeni family's income came from the gaming houses, where they also provided cash loans with massive interest rates.
"People caught in this cycle were gambling away their life savings while members of this group used intimidation and violence, including shootings, arsons and other threats of harm to collect their outstanding debts," added Det.-Sgt. Carl Mattinen.
