Toronto Illegal Gambling
A sprawling mansion in a high-end neighborhood north of Toronto operated as a 'high-end' underground gambling den complete with spa treatments, armed guards, and even a full-cash bar, Canadian. Dozens of suspects are facing hundreds of charges after a sweeping investigation into an alleged illegal gambling operation with ties to known gangs and at least one homicide, Ontario Provincial. Police announced the Toronto-area real estate developer had been charged after officers raided a lavish, well-armed and illegal casino that was. Wine and 11 guns as well as gambling equipment. The investigation indicated that illegal gambling was also going on at the Markham mansion, and on July 17, York police, together with the Durham Regional Police Service and Ontario Provincial. Responding to spike in shootings, arsons in Vaughan and the surrounding area in 2017, police started “Project Sindicato,” targeting a group accused of operating illegal backroom gambling dens.
Though casinos only just reopened in Ontario this week, gamblers apparently haven't been putting their high-stakes bidding on hold despite the pandemic, if the huge bust of an illegal casino at a Markham mansion is any indication.
York Regional Police (YRP) announced on Wednesday that they'd raided a 20,000 square foot, $9-million 'palace' that housed an underground casino and spa that law enforcement had been looking into since May.
Toronto Canada Illegal Gambling
In a series of tweets that have some serious Bond/Mission Impossible vibes, the YRP shared a video of their search of the opulent home north of Toronto, along with some impressive stats: $10 million in assets seized (including $1 million in cash and $1.5 million in alcohol), 11 firearms uncovered, and 29 people charged with more than 70 offences.
This $9 million Decourcy Court palace in #Markham was the site of a high-end illegal casino and spa operation recently shut down by @YRP investigators as part of Project Endgame. More at https://t.co/3m7Ct9rNDe. pic.twitter.com/waUAx6yXC4
/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/news/world/us/2019/10/12/the-latest-4-killed-at-illegal-gambling-site-in-brooklyn/NYJM103-1012_2019_133706.jpg "Toronto illegal gambling advice")
— York Regional Police (@YRP) September 30, 2020Toronto Illegal Gambling Laws
The force's social media team clearly had a lot of fun with this one, mentioning the fact that the maximum bet at one of the illicit facility's tables was a staggering $20,000 and that braised shark fin, a prohibited food item in Canada, was apparently on offer to patrons.
But after months of hard work on what they referred to as Project Endgame, the Intelligence Unit and the Guns, Gangs and Drug Enforcement Unit definitely deserved to make a big deal of what was indeed a massive bust that was linked to a whole syndicate in the area.
When braised shark fin is on the menu and the max bet at the baccarat table is $20k, you can expect plenty of cash around. To guard that cash, these suspects had guns. Lots of them. Further details at https://t.co/3m7Ct9rNDe. pic.twitter.com/hpl1eCoTSI
— York Regional Police (@YRP) September 30, 2020The search warrant on the property near Warden and Major Mackenzie Drive was actually executed with the help of the Ontario Provincial Police and Durham Regional Police back in late July, and was preceded by the discovery of another illegal casino at Midland and Kennedy Road in Scarborough a few weeks earlier, where five people were arrested and $20,000 was seized.
A few days later, cops made arrests and found more cash — over $70,000 — at yet another related location, this time in near Bathurst and Teston Road in Vaughan.
In total, 45 people were arrested at the three busts over the course of the month, and 33 of them charged. The investigation is also still ongoing, with the cops vowing to continue to crack down on organized crime in the region.
Exceptional job @YRP 👏👍👏
Massive criminal operation with so many facets: human/sex trafficking, drug trafficking, drugging casino participants, money laundering, trade in illegal animal products - stuffed polar bear on display in the property.
Pure contempt for the law & 🇨🇦
'While the total value of these seizures is significant, this is only the start of our efforts to dismantle organized crime groups who are operating illegal gaming operations in York Region,' YRP Chief Jim MacSween said in a press release about the charges.
'The money moving through these underground casinos leads to huge profits for criminals that fund other ventures such as prostitution and drug trafficking. This illegal high-stakes gambling also leads to gun violence, armed robberies, kidnappings, extortion and other serious violent offences within our community.'
One can safely bet that the perpetrators are surely regretting their high-rolling antics now.