Big gun and drug bust in Scarborough leads to three arrests

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Three men face a slew of charges after an assortment of guns and drugs were seized during searches of multiple locations in Scarborough.

Toronto police say Drug Squad officers – with help from the 42 Division Major Crime Unit – arrested the trio on Aug. 11 for allegedly trafficking cocaine and other illicit drugs throughout Toronto.

And investigators subsequently seized a stash of drugs, five firearms – three handguns, a rifle and a shotgun – and lots of ammunition.

“As part of the ongoing investigation, two search warrants were executed on Aug. 11 – one at a residence in the Meadowvale Rd. and Sheppard Ave. E. area and the second at an industrial unit located in the Markham Rd. and Finch Ave. E. area,” Drug Squad Insp. Kathlin Seremetkovski said.

While executing the first search warrant, she said officers seized about 20 grams of methamphetamine and a cellphone.

While executing the second search warrant at the industrial unit, Seremetkovski said officers seized a shotgun with the serial number removed (barrel and stock sawed off), a semi-automatic pistol, 50 rounds of 12-gauge ammunition, 106 rounds of 22 calibre long-rifle copper-plated ammunition, about 190 grams of powder cocaine, about 12 grams of MDMA, four digital scales and packaging.

“The investigating officers seized a motor vehicle and towed it to a police pound pending judicial authorization,” she said, explaining a third search warrant was executed on that vehicle on Aug. 14 and seized a semi-automatic handgun with 11 9mm rounds in the magazine, a semi-automatic handgun with nine .45 calibre rounds in the magazine, a rifle with folding stock with 11 rounds in an extended magazine, 31 rounds of .45 calibre ammunition, 62 rifle rounds, 151 rounds of .22 calibre ammunition, 30 rounds of 10mm ammunition, and five rounds of 12-gauge shotgun ammunition.

The three accused are all Toronto residents.

Lyndon Steele, 37, is charged with five counts of trafficking a schedule I substance, four counts of possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000, and one count of possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking.

Sanjay Turner, 30, is charged with five counts of possession of a firearm/ammunition contrary to a prohibition order, five counts of possession of a firearm without holding a licence, five counts of possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized, five counts of careless storage of a firearm, three counts of carless storage of ammunition, one counts of possession of a firearm knowing its serial number has been tampered with, two counts of possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking, and one count of possession of a prohibited device or ammunition.

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Corey Kawal, 30, is charged with five counts of possession of a firearm/ammunition contrary to a prohibition order, five counts of possession of a firearm without holding a licence, five counts of possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized, five counts of careless storage of a firearm, three counts of carless storage of ammunition, one count of possession of a firearm knowing its serial number has been tampered with, two counts of possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking, and one count of possession of a prohibited device or ammunition.

Anyone with further information regarding this investigation is urged to call police at 416-808-7350 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

cdoucette@postmedia.com

@sundoucette