Halton Police conclude Project Bayou, targeting stolen car trafficking

The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) 2nd District Criminal Investigation Bureau – Street Crime Unit has concluded a four-month investigation dubbed Project Bayou.

The investigation began in January 2024 and focused on suspicious activity related to car theft and nighttime residential burglaries.

Investigators identified an organized team of thieves who targeted high-end vehicles through residential burglaries and technology-enabled car thefts, with the stolen vehicles being re-immobilized and sold for significant profits. In addition, it emerged that these individuals were involved in large-scale drug trafficking.

On March 13, 2024 and April 24, 2024, with the assistance of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Peel Regional Police and Toronto Police Service, multiple search warrants were executed in Oakville and Toronto under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and the Criminal Code. These warrants targeted residences, storage lockers and connected vehicles.

The searches resulted in the seizure of a significant quantity of drugs and stolen goods, including:

• 7.8 kg of cocaine, including six intact 1 kg bricks

• 37 pounds of cannabis

• Many cannabis edibles and vaporizers

• 36 Mason jars containing liquid cannabis resin

• 772 oxycodone tablets

• 1229 LSD tablets

• 1248 grams of codeine

• 375 grams of psilocybin

• 755.7 grams of hashish

• 142 clonazepam tablets

• $1,123,217 in Canadian currency

• Money counters, scales, packaging materials and other drug trafficking paraphernalia

• Three vehicles stolen (BMW M4, Grand Cherokee, BMW X7)

• Motorcycle and trailer stolen

• License plates stolen in multiple high-end vehicle thefts

• Reprogramming Technology, Fraudulent VIN Plates and 128 Key Fobs

• A .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle with 159 rounds and a 12 gauge shotgun with 33 rounds

• A Glock 43X 9mm pistol loaded with 46 rounds

Following the investigation, several people were charged:

Vincent Tassone (24), from Oakville:

• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine) (2 Counts)

• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 (4 counts)

• Unauthorized possession of a firearm

• Knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm

• Careless use or storage of a firearm

• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose

• Possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition

• Violation of firearms regulations

• Possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution

• Possession of a master car key

• Possession of burglary instruments

• Trafficking in criminally obtained property (2 counts)

• Possession of property obtained by crime with a value less than $5,000

• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle

Tassone was remanded in custody pending a bail hearing.

Simon Cianciolo (23), from Oakville:

• Possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (clonazepam)

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (oxycodone)

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (LSD)

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (psilocybin)

• Possession of property obtained by crime with a value exceeding $5,000 (currency)

• Possession of a counterfeit trademark

• Possession of property obtained by crime with a value exceeding $5,000

Cianciolo was remanded in custody pending a bail hearing.

Shon Wickes (24), from Caledon:

• Possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (clonazepam)

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (oxycodone)

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (LSD)

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (psilocybin)

• Possession of property obtained by crime with a value exceeding $5,000 (currency)

• Possession of a counterfeit trademark

Wickes was remanded in custody pending a bail hearing.

Omar Darkhabani (29), from Oakville:

Darkhabani was released subject to a later court date.

In the weeks following the execution of the warrants, police seized 23 repainted vehicles worth more than $2 million.

Superintendent Dave Costantini said: “We are all very aware of the increase in auto thefts in our region and the Greater Toronto Area. These vehicles are not only being stolen for profit, but are also being used to commit other serious violent crimes such as armed robberies, home invasions, serious assaults, shootings and homicides. We are also aware that organized crime is driving the trafficking of illicit substances and has a direct correlation to the increase in drug poisonings resulting in deaths.”

“We are committed to continuing to work with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle organized crime groups. Through Project Bayou, we have dealt a critical blow to organized crime in Halton, significantly disrupting not only the drug trade, but also a large vehicle theft ring. The safety of all will always be our priority, as will holding those who wrongly believe they are above the law accountable. I commend the dedicated officers and our partner agencies whose tireless work has made these results possible.”

Muhammad Aamir, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Milton Reporter, Milton Reporter