New anti-gang law used in Toronto gun round-up
Updated Thu. May. 13 2004 6:31 AM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

A huge series of raids in the Toronto area Wednesday using a new federal anti-gang law resulted in 65 arrests and the laying of more than 500 charges, authorities say.

The operation was geared towards cracking down on gangs and their guns.

"What's happened today is the guns and gangs approach that this government is moving forward on, with crowns and police working together ...," Michael Bryant, Ontario's attorney general, told reporters.

The operation was known as Project Impact. It involved both Toronto and regional police forces, the RCMP and Canada Customs.

The pre-dawn raids occurred at 59 business, storage location and homes. They were located in Toronto, Barrie plus Durham, York and Peel regions.

In total, 71 search warrants were executed, Julian Fantino, Toronto's police chief, told a news conference.

Some of the charges include participating in a criminal organization, conspiracy to import prohibited firearms, possession of prohibited weapons for trafficking purposes, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine and possession of proceeds of crime.

Twenty-eight firearms were seized, along with drugs like ecstasy, marijuana, cocaine and hashish.

Specific quantities of the amounts seized weren't given.

Fantino spoke approvingly of the new "criminal organization" law -- s 467.1 of the Criminal Code.

"We believe this new tool will be effective in dismantling street gangs now and in the future," he said.

One advantage it will provide is allowing police to go after gang leaders who command their underlings but are otherwise removed from street-level crime, he said.

One of the gangs targeted was known as the Malvern Crew.

Malvern is a neighborhood in far northeast Toronto that has been particularly plagued by gun violence. As an example, at least two people living there died in their homes after being struck by stray bullets.

"We are overjoyed that this has occurred today. We feel it's a response to our prayers on the street," said Orim Meikle, pastor of Rhema Christian Ministries.

"With most of these guns off the street right now, we save a lot of lives today," said Patricia Fough.

Her 21-year-old son Omar Kent Hortley was shot and killed this year as he walked to a friend's home. He wasn't involved with any gang.

"It's just been three months and a half right now," Fough said. "I know he would want me to be strong and keep going, but he's always in my heart."

Hortley's murder, which was Toronto's fifth of 2004, remains unsolved. The city's homicide count now stands at 19.