MOB SWEEP: 32 ARRESTED

York Police Uncover Drugs, Explosives

York Regional Police are to announce today the arrests of 32 people in an
organized crime sweep launched following the execution-style slaying of an
Etobicoke casket salesman.

Unstable explosives, firearms and millions of dollars of drugs were
uncovered in the 16-month investigation dubbed Project RIP.

The probe began following the Oct. 3, 2000, hit on Gaetano Panepinto, 41,
in Etobicoke.

Police wanted to find out who had filled the vacuum left by Panepinto's
death and to stem the drug trade conducted by the group.

Police estimate about $10 million in drugs was seized along with weapons
and cash. The firearms are being tested by ballistics experts to determine
whether they had been involved in any unsolved shootings.

UNSTABLE DYNAMITE

During the investigation, detectives also uncovered a cache of unstable
dynamite and a device that could have been used as a bomb from a Concord house.

Panepinto, described by police sources as the Ontario representative for
the Montreal-based Rizzuto crime group, was shot dead as he was driving his
car in Etobicoke.

Police believe his slaying is linked to the disappearance and suspected
murders of two Calabrian mobsters.

It's believed the orders for his murder came from Italy.

The probe also uncovered thousands of dollars worth of fraud and recovered
a quantity of stolen goods.

Some of the seized contraband is expected to be shown during today's noon
press conference scheduled at York headquarters in Newmarket.

The project, which was led by York, also involved OPP's organized crime
section and officers from Toronto, Peel, the RCMP, Canada Customs. It was
funded by the Criminal Intelligence Service of Ontario.