Peel police have made 11 arrests and retrieved $30,000 worth of stolen retail goods in an investigation involving an organized crime group, officers say.
The group was stealing high-demand baby products from stores across the and exchanging them for drugs, investigators said. The operation was uncovered during a four-month investigation dubbed Project Bengal, police ²Ñ´Ç²Ô»å²¹²â.Ìý
The investigation was sparked by a community complaint about suspected drug activity in the Mississauga neighbourhood, police added.
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Through security footage, including video provided by Rexall, investigators identified two homes, one of which was used to stash stolen goods such as baby formula, razors and vitamins and another where drugs were allegedly being consumed .Â
“We were able to link a whole bunch of thefts together and place them at these two residences,” Const. Jacob Krane said in a .
Inside the two houses, officers found the stolen merchandise, which police say has since been returned to affected businesses. Police also seized illicit drugs, including more than half a kilogram of cocaine, along with $34,250 in cash .
In total, police laid 33 charges and issued 15 arrest warrants .
“It takes a lot of resources, and part of that is the community,” Krane said. “The community is crucial in letting us know what’s going on so that we can do our job and investigate further.”
Allie Moustakis is a staff reporter, working out of the Star’s
radio room in ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½. Reach her via email: amoustakis@thestar.ca
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