City police believe they have struck a significant blow to the local drug trade by arresting several top players, including the alleged head of the criminal organization.
On Wednesday Thunder Bay Police Service officers, in conjunction with the OPP, RCMP, the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service and the Anishnabek Police Service executed arrest and search warrants, arresting six people.
The alleged head of the organization, 38-year-old John Harry Tsekouras of Thunder Bay, was one of the people arrested.
Thunder Bay Police chief JP Levesque said through these arrests, they have dismantled one of the region’s most significant criminal organizations.
“We’re not so naïve to believe this is going to end the drug trade in Thunder Bay, but it is significant and we hope it puts a rather large dent in it,” he said Thursday at the Balmoral Street police station.
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Some drugs and property were seized during the raids, but Levesque said police were still conducting inventory and don’t yet have an exact amount.
The raids were a continuation of Project Dolphin, which saw seven people arrested and charged with drug-related offences in June 2011. Those individuals were lower-end players in this organization, said Levesque.
“What we had yesterday as far as these arrests are the upper echelon of the organization,” he said.
More than $2.1 million in illicit drugs and about $500,000 in cash and property have been seized through Project Dolphin.
In last June’s raids, cell phones and computers were seized. The local police’s cyber crime unit, with assistance from the RCMP, examined the devices and obtained evidence from them that led to new arrests and charges.
Levesque said the joint effort between law enforcement agencies is key and they’re grateful for the help.
OPP Superintendent Ken Leppert said it’s important for the agencies to work together because criminal groups often work together across multiple jurisdictions. It is alleged this criminal organization was working with Hells Angels and other organized crime groups in Montreal and western Canada.
“(Criminals) know no boundaries. They’re not limited by city or by provincial or in some cases national boundaries,” said Leppert. “In order for us to be effective in investigating, in dismantling, eliminating those types of organized crime groups, we have to work together.”
Wednesday’s search and arrest warrants were conducted by 50 officers starting at 7 a.m. and continuing well into the night.
The chief said this is the first time the Thunder Bay police have laid charges for being a member of a criminal organization.
The charge has existed in the criminal code since 2001 and the Thunder Bay Police Service had to get the permission of the Federal Department of Justice to lay the charges.
The following people have been arrested:
John Harry TSEKOURAS - 38 year old Thunder Bay resident
• Director - Criminal Organization contrary to Section 467.13(1) C.C.
• Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine Contrary to Section 465(1)(c) C.C.
• Conspiracy to Traffic Marijuana Contrary to Section 465(1)(c) C.C.
• Trafficking Cocaine contrary to Section 5(1) C.D.S.A.
• Trafficking Marijuana contrary to Section 5(1) C.D.S.A.
Male To Be Named At Later Date - 27 years old
• Director - Criminal Organization contrary to Section 467.13(1) C.C.
• Participant - Criminal Organization contrary to Section 467.11(1) C.C.
• Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine Contrary to Section 465(1)(c) C.C.
• Conspiracy to Traffic Marijuana Contrary to Section 465(1)(c) C.C.
• Conspiracy to Traffic Oxycodone Contrary to Section 465(1)(c) C.C.
• Trafficking Cocaine contrary to Section 5(1) C.D.S.A.
• Trafficking Marijuana contrary to Section 5(1) C.D.S.A.
Keith John RITCHIE - 28 year old Thunder Bay resident
• Participant - Criminal Organization contrary to Section 467.11(1) C.C.
• Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine Contrary to Section 465(1)(c) C.C.
• Conspiracy to Traffic Marijuana Contrary to Section 465(1)(c) C.C.
• Trafficking Cocaine contrary to Section 5(1) C.D.S.A.
• Trafficking Marijuana contrary to Section 5(1) C.D.S.A.
Roberto Dennis CHIODO - 42 year old Thunder Bay resident
• Participant - Criminal Organization contrary to Section 467.11(1) C.C.
• Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine Contrary to Section 465(1)(c) C.C.
• Conspiracy to Traffic Marijuana Contrary to Section 465(1)(c) C.C.
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine Contrary to Section 5(2) CDSA
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Oxycodone Contrary to Section 5(2) CDSA
• Possession of Marihuana Contrary to Section 4(1) CDSA
Travis Garth GORDON - 27 year old Thunder Bay resident
• Participant - Criminal Organization contrary to Section 467.11(1) C.C.
Rory PELLETIER - 41 year old Thunder Bay resident
• Participant - Criminal Organization contrary to Section 467.11(1) C.C.
• Possession of a prohibited weapon Contrary to Section 91(2) C.C. (Butterfly knife)
• Possession of Marihuana Contrary to Section 4(1) CDSA
Police say they believe the organization they have been investigating was involved in the trafficking of drugs, including cocaine, marijuana and Oxycodone.
