TORONTO POLICE OFFICERS ARRESTED IN DRUG INVESTIGATION

Officers Allegedly Linked to Marijuana Grow Operations

Two Toronto police constables were among 23 people arrested this
morning as part of a lengthy investigation into a marijuana
trafficking ring.

Police said they executed 63 search warrants in the GTA at 6 a.m. and
seized about $60,000 cash along with about 17 pounds of marijuana.

The investigation began in February 2007 when York Regional Police
uncovered a number of marijuana grow operations.

"During the course of their investigation, they uncovered evidence
linking a Toronto police officer to one of the residences under
investigation," said Toronto police chief Bill Blair, adding an
investigation by Toronto police uncovered that another officer, three
corrections officers and a number of citizens "were involved in a
criminal enterprise the primary purpose of which was the production
and distribution of marijuana, the distribution of other drugs and the
laundering of the proceeds of their criminal enterprise."

One arrested officer is from downtown's 51 Division while the other
was on light duties and was originally assigned to North York's 31
Division.

Both have been suspended and face several charges, including
participating in an offence for a criminal organization, breach of
trust and conspiracy to produce marijuana.

"We have always stressed the importance of maintaining the public
trust in order to do our job," Blair told reporters this afternoon.

"When we have behaviour as is alleged in this investigation where
members of our service are alleged to have been involved in a criminal
enterprise, it is more than merely a betrayal of their oath to office.
It is frankly a betrayal of all of the hard working and decent men and
women of the Toronto Police Service and the policing profession in
this country."

Blair noted the investigation included "countless hours" of
surveillance.

"We also determined that no other member of this service was in any
way connected to this criminal enterprise."