POLICE CHARGE 12 AND RESTRAIN NUMEROUS ASSETS

_{Organized Crime Group Linked to 2004 Barrie Grow-Op}

BARRIE, ON, Oct. 14 /CNW/ - Members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-led Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) and the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), in conjunction with the Niagara Regional Police Service and the Sureté du Québec, have charged 12 individuals in connection with a 16-month, multi-jurisdictional police investigation that originated with a marihuana grow-op investigation that had been concealed in a former brewery in Barrie, Ontario.

In January 2004, members of the OPP and Barrie Police Service seized an estimated $30-million worth of marihuana plants from a former brewery and a nearby building and charged nine people with what was at the time the largest marihuana grow operation ever discovered in Canada. 

This investigation, dubbed "Project Birmingham," was a joint forces investigation led by the OCEB that included bringing to justice the co-conspirators of the Barrie marihuana growing and distribution operation that was dismantled in 2004.  The focus of the ongoing police investigation was to identify and bring to justice the operating minds of this criminal enterprise, and through the OPP-led Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit (PAFU) restrain all of their offence-related property.

On October 13, 2010, police executed five (5) search warrants, including residences and industrial facilities in various Ontario and Quebec locations. Police in Quebec have simultaneously executed search warrants targeting a criminal enterprise involved in large-scale marihuana production. In addition, the PAFU has restrained one (1) commercial property in Barrie and one (1) residential property in Elliot Lake and seized three (3) vehicles using provisions available through Proceeds of Crime legislation. 

1. Drago DOLIC, 49 years old, currently in a detention facility in Pollack, Louisiana with:

• PRODUCTION OF MARIHUANA
  
• POSSESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAFFICKING
  
• CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION X 2
  
• CONSPIRACY TO PRODUCE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
  
• CONSPIRACY TO TRAFFICKING MARIHUANA
  

2. Davorka PELIKAN, 47 years old of Mississauga, Ontario with:

• PRODUCTION OF MARIHUANA
  
• POSSESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAFFICKING
  
• CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION

STATUS: TO APPEAR IN NEWMARKET COURT OCTOBER 14, 2010

3. Yvan GUINDON, 47 years old of Oka, Quebec with:

• TRAFFICKING MARIHUANA X 2
  
• POSSESSION OF PROCEEDS OF CRIME X2
  

STATUS: TO APPEAR IN NEWMARKET COURT OCTOBER 14, 2010

4. Robert BLEICH, 46 years old of Stayner, Ontario with:

• CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION X 2
  
• TRAFFICKING MARIHUANA X 4
• CONSPIRACY TO PRODUCE A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
  

STATUS: TO APPEAR IN NEWMARKET COURT OCTOBER 14, 2010

5. Jeffrey DASILVA, 38 years old of St. Luc, Quebec with:

• PRODUCTION OF MARIHUANA
  
• POSSESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAFFICKING
  
• CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION X 2
  
• TRAFFICKING MARIHUANA X 6
  
• CONSPIRACY TO PRODUCE A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
  
• CONSPIRACY TO TRAFFICKING MARIHUANA
  
• POSSESSION OF PROCEEDS OF CRIME X 2

STATUS: TO APPEAR IN NEWMARKET COURT OCTOBER 14, 2010

6. Robert DEROSA, 51 years old of Phelpston, Ontario with:

• PRODUCTION OF MARIHUANA
  
• POSSESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAFFICKING
  
• CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION X 2
  
• TRAFFICKING MARIHUANA X 2
  
• POSSESSION OF PROCEEDS OF CRIME
  
• CONSPIRACY TO PRODUCE A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
  
• CONSPIRACY TO TRAFFICKING MARIHUANA
  
• OFFER TO TRAFFIC FIREARMS X 2
  
• CONSPIRACY TO TRAFFIC FIREARMS
  
• CONSPIRACY TO IMPORT COCAINE

STATUS: ARREST WARRANT ISSUED

7. Ronald FISICO, 60 years old of North York, Ontario with:

• ATTEMPT TO IMPORT CANNABIS RESIN

STATUS: TO APPEAR IN NEWMARKET COURT OCTOBER 14, 2010

8. Larry MCGEE, 56 years old of Oro-Medonte Township, Ontario with:

• PRODUCTION OF MARIHUANA
  
• POSSESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAFFICKING
  
• CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION

STATUS: ARREST WARRANT ISSUED

9. Dennis HOULD, 54 years old of Elliot Lake, Ontario with:

• PRODUCTION OF MARIHUANA
  
• POSSESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAFFICKING
  
• CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION
  
• POSSESSION OF PROCEEDS OF CRIME
  
• LAUNDERING OF PROCEEDS OF CRIME

STATUS: TO APPEAR IN NEWMARKET COURT OCTOBER 14, 2010

10. Jefferey LAWSON, 50 years old of St. Catharines, Ontario with:

• PRODUCTION OF MARIHUANA
  
• POSSESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAFFICKING
  
• CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION
  

STATUS: TO APPEAR IN NEWMARKET COURT OCTOBER 14, 2010

11. Bernice LAAN, 49 years old of Phelpston, Ontario with:

• POSSESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAFFICKING
  

STATUS: TO APPEAR IN NEWMARKET COURT OCTOBER 14, 2010

12. Daniel MOORE, 52 years old of Phelpston, Ontario with:

• POSSESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAFFICKING
  

STATUS: TO APPEAR IN NEWMARKET COURT OCTOBER 14, 2010

The investigation is ongoing and further charges are pending.

QUOTES

"Organized crime knows no boundaries and respects no jurisdictions.  The OPP remains committed to all joint law enforcement initiatives and will continue to take a leadership role in integrated police investigations to combat organized crime."  - Chris D. Lewis, Commissioner - Ontario Provincial Police. 

"We know the vast majority of marihuana grown in Ontario is for export to the US, and returns to Ontario as cocaine, cash or guns, to support criminal enterprises. Project Birmingham is a great example of a multi-jurisdictional investigation that demonstrates dedication and teamwork required to keep Ontario communities safe." - Chief Superintendent Don Bell, Commander - OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau.

QUICK FACTS

• The OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) engages in proactive, intelligence-led investigations targeting organized crime groups and criminality in Ontario.

• The OPP Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit (PAFU) assists with the identification, seizure, restraint and forfeiture of offence-related property and proceeds of crime.  The authority for this legislation is found in the Criminal Code of Canada and specifies that it applies to "any property, benefit or advantage derived from the commission of designated offences."
  
  
• Assets can either be seized as part of police investigations or through a referral made to the Ministry of the Attorney-General's Civil Remedies for Illicit Activities (CRIA) office.

LEARN MORE

Backgrounders and digital images of seized marihuana and property, is available on-line at this link: http://www.opp.ca/media/Birmingham/

BACKGROUND

OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB)

The Ontario Provincial Police Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) has a mandate to facilitate the disruption and suppression of organized crime, which affects the citizens of Ontario.

OCEB is committed to crime prevention and the delivery of investigative excellence in support of our front line officers, our policing partners and justice sector stakeholders across jurisdictions so that we can continue to dismantle organized crime and enhance public safety.

There are nine (9) specialized groups within OCEB:

• Provincial Organized Crime Enforcement Team (POCET)
  
• Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit (PAFU)
  
• Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit (PWEU)
  
• Biker Enforcement Unit (BEU)
  
• Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU)
  
• Identity Crimes Unit (ICU)
  
• Provincial Auto Theft Team (PATT) 
  
• Illegal Gambling Unit (IGU)
  
• Repeat Offenders Parole Enforcement (ROPE)
  

With the exception of the Identity Crimes Unit, these are joint forces operations comprised of OPP members and federal and municipal law enforcement partners. They investigate organized crime offences in Ontario, through the "intelligence-led" policing model that involves the collection and analysis of information to inform police decision making at both the operational and strategic levels.

BACKGROUND

Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit

The role of the OPP Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit (PAFU) is to assist with the identification, seizure, restraint and forfeiture of offence-related property and proceeds of crime.  The authority for this legislation is found in the Criminal Code and specifies that it applies to "any property, benefit or advantage derived from the commission of designated offences". The legislation allowing for criminal and civil asset forfeiture supports our two main goals which are that crime shouldn't pay; and, property shouldn't be used for criminal means.

Dismantling the financial infrastructure of a criminal enterprise and removing property that facilitates crime are effective methods to suppress criminal activities, therefore mitigating the devastating impact they have in our communities.

Assets are either seized as part of police investigations or through a referral made to the Ministry of the Attorney-General's Civil Remedies for Illicit Activities (CRIA) office. The seized assets go through a criminal process and are usually forfeited through the court. Assets or properties that are forfeited by way of a civil process are achieved through the CRIA office, independently from the police.

2006	--	Total number of PAFU Investigations   Approx. value of seizures / restraints Approx. value of forfeitures	=  =   =	355 $ 25.5 m $ 5.5 m
2007	--	Total number of PAFU Investigations   Approx. value of seizures / restraints  Approx. value of forfeitures	=  =   =	599 $ 37.5 m $ 4.3 m
2008	--	Total number of AFU Investigations    Approx. value of seizures / restraints  Approx. value of forfeitures	=  =   =	705 $ 31.7 m $ 6.4 m
2009	--	Total number of PAFU Investigations   Approx. value of seizures / restraints  Approx. value of forfeitures	=  =   =	648 $ 44.4 m $ 5.3 m
^12010	--	Total number of PAFU Investigations   Approx. value of seizures / restraints  Approx. value of forfeitures	=  = =	498 $ 29.6 m $ 9.6 m

NOTE: The dollar values listed represent an estimate of the value of the assets and property OPP has seized or restrained and removed from the criminal economy.

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¹ Year to Date: January 1, 2010 to August 31,2010.

For further information:

Contact:	Constable Peter Leon Central Region Media Relations
Phone:	[phone]
Cell:	[phone]