Project Cheddar?!? Cops think they're funny...
A string of overnight police raids across the city this week not only led to the arrest of an alleged gang leader but also took one of the most powerful guns in the world off the streets.
In recent months, Toronto Police say undercover officers have seized 10 kilos of cocaine worth upwards of $2 million during an operation dubbed Project Cheddar. That operation culminated Wednesday night when police said officers intercepted "certain evidence" in the downtown core.
"Arrests were made and a series of search warrants followed," Det.-Sgt. Doug Quan, head of the integrated Toronto Police gun and gang task force, said yesterday, adding nine homes were raided that night and the next morning.
Project Cheddar -- a collaborative effort that also involved the drug squad, officers from 12 and 23 Divisions as well as the Intelligence Division, and the RCMP -- resulted in 90 charges against nine people and the seizure of six handguns.
Among the seven men and two women arrested was Alejandro Jose "Cheesie" Vivar, 26, the alleged leader of the notorious LA (Latino Americanos) Boys -- a group police claim has risen from a street gang operating in the Christie Pits area to high level drug distributors operating across the city.
In recent months, Toronto Police say undercover officers have seized 10 kilos of cocaine worth upwards of $2 million during an operation dubbed Project Cheddar. That operation culminated Wednesday night when police said officers intercepted "certain evidence" in the downtown core.
"Arrests were made and a series of search warrants followed," Det.-Sgt. Doug Quan, head of the integrated Toronto Police gun and gang task force, said yesterday, adding nine homes were raided that night and the next morning.
Project Cheddar -- a collaborative effort that also involved the drug squad, officers from 12 and 23 Divisions as well as the Intelligence Division, and the RCMP -- resulted in 90 charges against nine people and the seizure of six handguns.
Among the seven men and two women arrested was Alejandro Jose "Cheesie" Vivar, 26, the alleged leader of the notorious LA (Latino Americanos) Boys -- a group police claim has risen from a street gang operating in the Christie Pits area to high level drug distributors operating across the city.
Alejandro Vivar, who was acquitted of murder three years ago.
Vivar stood trial for first-degree murder in the 2002 gang slaying of Gary Malo, the former ringleader of the Christie Boys who was fatally shot in a west-end bar.
Vivar stood trial for first-degree murder in the 2002 gang slaying of Gary Malo, the former ringleader of the Christie Boys who was fatally shot in a west-end bar.
Quan said all of the guns police seized this week were loaded when found, five in homes and one in a vehicle.
One of the firearms was a gold-coloured, .50-calibre Desert Eagle made of titanium -- a massive pistol considered by many experts to be among the most dangerous handguns ever made.
"It's pretty rare," Quan said. "This is the first time I've seen one out there."
Also charged are Manuel Perera, 25, Ken Yu, 25, Carlos Minero, 28, Daniel Tran, 29, Rina Okimawinew, 26, Karina Guajala, 25, all of Toronto, and Wayne Sicard, 41, and Michael Dibble, 25, both of Brockville.
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