Project KAKIA Disrupts Criminal Networks in Durham Region
Numerous individuals are facing serious charges at the conclusion of Project KAKIA, a Durham Regional Police (DRPS) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) joint investigation into organized crime within the Region of Durham and surrounding jurisdictions.
This was a six-month multi-jurisdictional investigation led by the DRPS Gun and Gang Enforcement Unit in partnership with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Transnational Serious and Organized Crime Unit. Further support and funding was provided by the Ontario Government, Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario.
DRPS, RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Peterborough Police Service, Toronto Police Service, Belleville Police Service and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) executed 55 search warrants at locations within the Region of Durham, Belleville, Madoc, Montreal, Hamilton and Toronto, which resulted in 28 persons arrested and 291 charges laid, with charges ranging from break and enter, participation in criminal organizations, firearm trafficking and possession of controlled substances including cocaine, fentanyl methamphetamine and cannabis edibles. Approximately 1.2 million dollars in drugs and 32 firearms were seized along with other related evidence during this investigation.
The criminal networks involved a number of members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) from the Brooklin and Belleville charters, as well as the Red Devils Motorcycle Club (RDMC).
The investigation also provided information related to a homicide that occurred in Oshawa on November 29, 2020 which resulted in the arrest of Bradley WHITE (RDMC) for his participation in this offence.
During the course of Project Kakia, police seized:
- 32 Firearms
- 2 Percussion grenades
- Overcapacity magazines
- Thousands of rounds of ammunition
- 5 Motor vehicles
- $290,000 in Canadian currency
- $148,000 in Property Obtained by Crime (Lululemon Clothing and 2 Breitling watches)
- 5.5 kilograms of Cocaine
- 1.5 kilograms of Psilocybin
- 7.7 kilograms of Cannabis Marihuana
- 1.2 kilograms of Cannabis Resin
- 1.2 kilograms of Methamphetamine
- 54 grams of Heroin
- 141 grams of Fentanyl powder
- 7336 Fentanyl pills
- 6187 Cannabis edibles packaged as candy
- 20 kilograms of cutting agent
- Outlaw Motorcycle clothing from HAMC and RDMC
Three area men are among those charged:
Blair Crawford (40) Belleville
Unauthorized Possession of Firearm x 2 counts
Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized x 2 counts
Unauthorized Possession (Firearm) in Motor Vehicle
Tampering with Serial Number x 2 counts
Possession (Firearm) Contrary to Order
Possession for Purpose of Weapons Trafficking
Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
Jeffrey Thompson (40) Madoc
Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
Unauthorized Possession of Firearm x 2 counts
Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized x 2 counts
Weapons Trafficking
Tampering with Serial Number x 2 counts
Devin Roherty (34), Belleville
Trafficking in Schedule I Substance (Cocaine)
The DRPS and RCMP would like to thank the members of the investigative team for their dedication and perseverance, our law enforcement partners, the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario and all of the other law enforcement agencies that provided assistance during this complex investigation.
