Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TORONTO168
2009-07-29 20:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Toronto
Cable title:
C$100 million of Heroin found in Ontario
how-toVZCZCXRO9597 RR RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHMT RUEHQU RUEHVC DE RUEHON #0168 2102034 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 292034Z JUL 09 FM AMCONSUL TORONTO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2884 INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHDC RUEPINS/HQ BICE INTEL WASHINGTON DC RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0016 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0181
UNCLAS TORONTO 000168
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INL/LP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SNAR KCRM CA
SUBJECT: C$100 million of Heroin found in Ontario
UNCLAS TORONTO 000168
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INL/LP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SNAR KCRM CA
SUBJECT: C$100 million of Heroin found in Ontario
1. (U) On July 28, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's (RCMP)
Ontario Division announced that a joint police forces group had
executed one of the largest heroin busts in Canadian history a week
earlier. The task force seized 117 kilograms of heroin with a
street value of C$100 million and more than C$645,000 in cash from a
Toronto home and storage unit. To put the size of this bust in
perspective, this one seizure surpasses the average annual amount of
heroin seized nationally by about 40 kilograms.
2. (U) Officers found the heroin wrapped in paper stamped "Islamic
Republic of Afghanistan" and packed in the bottom of jewelry
machinery in a Toronto residence. The RCMP believes the heroin
originated in Afghanistan and was shipped from Pakistan. They also
suspect that the drugs were routed by sea to docks in Montreal and
Halifax, where border security has been a serious concern, according
to police. Investigators speculate that the traffickers had been
operating in Canada for some time, gaining the contacts and level of
coordination needed for such a large drug operation. (Note: The
Toronto area is home to the largest Pakistani and Afghani
communities in Canada, numbering 52,800 and 31,295, respectively.)
3. (U) As a result of the investigation, police arrested two
Toronto-area men and one woman, all of Pakistani origin, on July 22.
Husband and wife, Ali Murtaza (35) and Nazma Murtaza (34),and Al
Saadat (50) appeared before a Brampton Court (just west of Toronto)
on July 23, facing charges under the Canadian Criminal Code and
Controlled Drug and Substances Act. A contact at the RCMP told us
that this is the first significant heroin case involving Pakistani
suspects.
BYSFIELD
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INL/LP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SNAR KCRM CA
SUBJECT: C$100 million of Heroin found in Ontario
1. (U) On July 28, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's (RCMP)
Ontario Division announced that a joint police forces group had
executed one of the largest heroin busts in Canadian history a week
earlier. The task force seized 117 kilograms of heroin with a
street value of C$100 million and more than C$645,000 in cash from a
Toronto home and storage unit. To put the size of this bust in
perspective, this one seizure surpasses the average annual amount of
heroin seized nationally by about 40 kilograms.
2. (U) Officers found the heroin wrapped in paper stamped "Islamic
Republic of Afghanistan" and packed in the bottom of jewelry
machinery in a Toronto residence. The RCMP believes the heroin
originated in Afghanistan and was shipped from Pakistan. They also
suspect that the drugs were routed by sea to docks in Montreal and
Halifax, where border security has been a serious concern, according
to police. Investigators speculate that the traffickers had been
operating in Canada for some time, gaining the contacts and level of
coordination needed for such a large drug operation. (Note: The
Toronto area is home to the largest Pakistani and Afghani
communities in Canada, numbering 52,800 and 31,295, respectively.)
3. (U) As a result of the investigation, police arrested two
Toronto-area men and one woman, all of Pakistani origin, on July 22.
Husband and wife, Ali Murtaza (35) and Nazma Murtaza (34),and Al
Saadat (50) appeared before a Brampton Court (just west of Toronto)
on July 23, facing charges under the Canadian Criminal Code and
Controlled Drug and Substances Act. A contact at the RCMP told us
that this is the first significant heroin case involving Pakistani
suspects.
BYSFIELD