ARRESTS FOLLOW RAIDS ON HOMES

Peel police say they believe they have rounded up a group of cross-border drug runners who were at the top of the insidious residential marijuana growing operation in the GTA.

An eight-month joint forces investigation wrapped up yesterday with raids at 12 homes in Brampton and Mississauga, and four in other cities, according to the Peel police Morality Bureau.  At least two of the raids were in Brampton, while the majority were in Mississauga.  At least two were in the area of Derry and Mavis roads.

More than 20 people were arrested, and police seized a veritable fortune in cash, diamonds and other jewelry, luxury cars and marijuana.  Investigators say they will release a list of those charged and the locations of the seizures today.

The sophisticated ring of Vietnamese organized crime suspects had profits and holdings in the millions of dollars, using snowmobiles, boats and secret compartments in cars to smuggle 1,000 pounds of marijuana a month to the United States through the Cornwall area, police say.  They were collecting marijuana grown in residential hydroponic labs, packaging it and distributing it throughout the United States, according to police.

"I suspect a seizure of this magnitude would definitely have an impact on drug trafficking in the Region of Peel and beyond," said Peel Sgt.  Todd Moore.

Smuggled into U.S.

The joint forces investigation started in September and involved the RCMP's Integrated Proceeds of Crime Unit, United States Customs, the DEA ( Drug Enforcement Agency ), Canada Customs and the Montreal Urban Police.

It wrapped up with the raids and arrests yesterday.  Included in the seizures were close to $1 million in jewelry, including $100,000 in raw diamonds, and $2 million in cash.

Police say they seized 700 pounds of marijuana during the course of the investigation, dubbed Project Freightliner, and yesterday they seized several luxury vehicles, including two Porsches and a Mercedes Benz.

Police said the accused were living in large, expensive homes and driving expensive cars.

Several methods were used to smuggle the drugs over the border, including snowmobiles and boats.  Also, several vehicles were "professionally" modified with hidden compartments to conceal large amounts of marijuana, according to police.