RESTRAINT ORDER ISSUED FOR PIZZA GIGI

Megan O'Toole, National Post

Toronto police have seized a downtown pizza restaurant that was raided
in a drug investigation nearly three months ago.

Police allege Pizza Gigi, which has operated on Harbord Street
since 1973, was an "offence-related property" used in connection with
the charges against its owner. Salvatore Crimi, 57, faces 14 counts,
including possession of marijuana, possession of cocaine and
trafficking.

Police have obtained a restraint order, meaning the restaurant is
subject to forfeiture upon Mr. Crimi's conviction.

"The property is not forfeited by any means. The property is still in
his name," Detective Richard MacCheyne said Thursday. "The restraint
order makes the property available for forfeiture at the end of the
proceedings. [For now], he can continue to operate his business."

The order prohibits Mr. Crimi from selling the restaurant or taking
out a mortgage on it, police said. If the property is ultimately
forfeited, it would be disposed of by the federal government.

Police say they seized $1million worth of marijuana in their
investigation of Pizza Gigi, along with quantities of crack cocaine,
Oxycocet, Oxycontin, MDMA and thousands of dollars in cash.