RICHMOND HILL – Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Serious and Organized Crime (SOC) Controlled Delivery Team (CDT) in partnership with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Quebec Region and Greater Toronto Area Region and York Regional Police (YRP) have disrupted a criminal organization importing harmful opioids in Canada.
On August 28, 2017, CBSA at the Port of Montreal intercepted a shipping container from Afghanistan, destined for Richmond Hill, Ontario. During inspection of the shipping container approximately 29 kilograms of heroin and 604 grams of opium were found secreted in boxes of marble tiles. The RCMP was subsequently alerted and an investigation ensued which led to the execution of search warrants in Aurora, Richmond Hill and Stouffville, ON.
As a result of this investigation four subjects from the York Region have been charged, however the investigation is ongoing and further charges are anticipated.
Charged are Mustapha Naqizadah (31 years old from Aurora, Ontario), Edwin Tang (27 years old, from Richmond Hill, Ontario), and Kyle James Gunn (33 years old, from Richmond Hill, Ontario) with:
- Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance, contrary to the Criminal Code
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, contrary to the Criminal Code
- Conspiracy to Commit the Offence of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, contrary to the Criminal Code
Mohammad Najafi-Fard (63 years old, from Richmond Hill, Ontario) is charged with Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance contrary to the Criminal Code and Conspiracy to Commit the Offence of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking contrary to the Criminal Code.
Edwin Tang has appeared in Brampton Court on September 13th, and was released on bail with conditions which requires him to return to court on October 20th, 2017. Kyle Gunn and Mohammad Najafi-Fard are scheduled to appear for bails hearing in Brampton Court on September 18th, and Mustapha Naqizadah is set to appear on September 21st, 2017.
“Illicit drugs are a blight on our society and destructive to our communities and neighborhoods. The RCMP will continue to work with our Law Enforcement partners to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible for the import and distribution of drugs, and prevent them from profiting from their criminal enterprise,” said Superintendent Chris Leather RCMP GTA Commander.
“This significant drug interception is the result of CBSA officers’ expertise and know-how. We’re proud to contribute to protect the Canadian public from illegal activities in collaboration with the RCMP and law enforcement partners” stated Josée Deschamps, Director, St. Lawrence District, CBSA Quebec Region.
The RCMP would like to thank the York Regional Police and CBSA for their assistance with this investigation.
Law enforcement agencies work diligently to make our communities a safer place to live, however your assistance in remaining vigilant and informing us of any suspicious activities will help us be even more successful. You can contact your local police, the Ontario RCMP at 1-800-387-0020, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), at any time.
