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Levesque commends regional policing cooperation for Tsekouras conviction

THUNDER BAY -- The city’s police chief is commending regional cooperation that resulted in “a significant victory” against what he calls “one of Northwestern Ontario’s most significant criminal organizations.
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From left: RCMP Staff Sgt. Norman Roy, Thunder Bay Police Service chief J.P. Levesque and Nishnawbe Aski Police Service chief Terry Armstrong hold a media conference at the city police force's Balmoral Street station to address the drug trafficking convictions of John Harry Tsekouras. (Matt Vis, tbnewswatch.com)

THUNDER BAY -- The city’s police chief is commending regional cooperation that resulted in “a significant victory” against what he calls “one of Northwestern Ontario’s most significant criminal organizations.”

Thunder Bay Police Chief J.P. Levesque held a joint media conference with RCMP Staff Sgt. Normand Roy and Nishnawbe Aski Police Service Chief Terry Armstrong on Friday to address the conviction of 41-year-old John Harry Tsekouras on cocaine and marijuana trafficking charges.

Tsekouras, who was arrested on June 16, 2011 as part of the Project Dolphin investigation, was suspected to be the head of the organization.

Earlier this week he was convicted on four of eight counts, with the other four being conditionally stayed. He was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in jail earlier Friday.

“The investigation revealed an elaborate drug distribution network that utilized sophisticated communication technology,” Levesque said during the late afternoon conference at the Balmoral Street station. “That technology proved to be no match for the technical expertise of Canadian police, especially the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.” 

When announcing the verdict, Justice John Wright said his decision was based on evidence that included text messages sent and received by a Blackberry that was seized from Tsekouras when he was arrested.

The Blackberry was deemed admissible as evidence during the pre-trial process despite Wright ruling there had been charter breaches due to the device being unlawfully retained, searched and seized. The phone was heavily encrypted but the RCMP technological lab was able to extract 406 emails and 25 address book entries.

After the sentence was announced Tsekouras’s lawyer Joseph Wilkinson said he intended to file an appeal based on pre-trial rulings, though he did not identify any specific ones.

When asked about whether he was concerned about the prospects of an appeal, Levesque said it was out of their hands.

“That’s his charter right and if that’s what they’re going to pursue as police we don’t have a lot to do with that,” he said. “It’s up to the Crown attorneys and the Department of Justice.”

Tsekouras is facing four other charges that have not been tested in court. Those are conspiracy to commit murder, leader of criminal organization, participant of criminal organization and one outstanding drug charge.

There are five other individuals who also have charges before the courts as a result of the Project Dolphin probe.

To date Project Dolphin has resulted in the seizure of $2.1 million worth of drugs as well as close to $500,000 in cash and property.

Despite the scope of the ring, Levesque acknowledged there is still a multi-million dollar local illegal drug economy.

“We’re not so naïve to think this is going to put an end to the drug trade in Thunder Bay. We know that we have to remain vigilant,” Levesque said.

“We’ve noticed that when we’ve taken down large organizations like this there’s always somebody waiting in the wings to take over this very lucrative market.”




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