Police lay 107 charges after several firearms seized in gun trafficking probe

CTV Toronto: Police lay 107 charges in gun raids Toronto police seized several firearms and laid more than 100 charges in connection with a gun trafficking investigation.

Two people are facing a combined 107 charges in connection with the seizure of numerous firearms, 42 rounds of ammunition, and nine high-capacity magazines.

On Jan 24, the Toronto Police Service’s Gun and Gangs Task Force executed five search warrants – three for Toronto residences and two for vehicles – as part of an ongoing firearms trafficking investigation.

Police allege nine firearms were seized in the raids and include a Px4 Storm Beretta .40 calibre semi-automatic handgun, a Desert Eagle 9mm semi-automatic firearm, a Glock 27 .40 calibre semi-automatic handgun, a Glock 23 .40 calibre semi-automatic handgun.

Speaking to reporters at a news conference Wednesday, Insp. Peter Moreira said two people have been arrested in connection with the firearms investigation. He said a third person was also arrested on a drug-related charge.

“Every firearm, every illicit firearm in this city is important,” he said. “The officers work diligently each and every day and we don’t hold new conferences for every firearm we seize but I can tell you they’re out there each and every day, working extremely hard, to try and conclude these investigations.”

Moreira said a total of 42 rounds of ammunition was also seized during the investigation and 9 over-capacity magazines “capable of holding various calibres of ammunition” for Glock handguns.

He said investigators have not determined whether the firearms seized have been involved in any other crime but that forensic testing will be done to see if they’re linked to criminal activity.

Two of the suspects, identified as Toronto residents Junior Richardson, 38, Kathryn Concepcion, 26, are facing numerous weapon and drug charges including nine counts each of possession of a firearm knowing its possession if unauthorized, nine counts each of possession of a firearm for the purpose of trafficking and four counts each of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

A third suspect, identified as 52-year-old Toronto resident Everton Curling, was also arrested during the execution of search warrants Tuesday. He has been charged with one count of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Moreira said Peel Regional Police issued a warrant for Richardson’s arrest in Sept. 2014 for several other charges including assault with a weapon and kidnapping.

“This is yet another example of the type of work these officers do on a daily basis,” he said. “Their efforts continue to have a direct impact in disrupting violent criminal activity in this city.”

Tuesday’s search warrants come on the heels of another Toronto police firearms investigation where four others were charged with a combined 165 offences.

Moreira said 18 illicit firearms and “hundreds of rounds of ammunition” have been seized in the city over the past nine days.

He added that some of the firearms seized Tuesday are “hybrid guns” made up of several different firearm parts and assembled.

“I can tell you that this point we haven’t found any acquisition license for any of the people charged with firearm related offences,” Moreira said.

“You don’t need a licence necessarily to buy them (firearms parts), so that’s something we’re working hard on with our federal partners to try to address.”

Moreria urged anyone who has information about where illicit firearms are being stored in the city to get in contact with police.

“This really puts the onus on everyone,” he said.

“They’re a danger to public safety and every firearm we recover, we view it as one life saved.”