Durham's Project Burton leads to 32 people charged with 184 offences

Article content

An eight-month-long probe into the illegal possession and trafficking of firearms in Durham Region, known as Project Burton, has led to 32 people being charged with 184 offences and the seizure of 16 firearms.

In January 2024, the Durham Regional Police Gun and Gang Enforcement Unit began the investigation because of the alarming number of illegal firearms being trafficked and used in the commission of crimes.

The focus was on a group who self identified as 2230, whose origin initiated from a double homicide in Oshawa on June 25, 2022, and were believed to be in involved in the trafficking of illegal firearms, illegal weapon possession, drug distribution, and various fraud schemes with criminal activities reaching as far as British Columbia.

Officers seized 12 handguns, three long guns, one .22 caliber carbine semi-automatic rifle, seven prohibited devices, including six extended magazines, a 50-round drum magazine, and an auto-sear selector switch capable of converting a handgun into a fully automatic weapon.

Also seized was one kilogram of cocaine, one kilogram of fentanyl, and $80,000 in currency.

Of the 32 individuals arrested, 28 were held for a bail hearing and 13 of those were released on their first court appearance.

Since being released, three are now wanted for breaching their release conditions.

Investigators are still seeking the public’s assistance in locating two suspects from Oshawa still outstanding on numerous offences – Isaiah Bailey-Bejamin, 23, and Sebastian Johnston, 19.

The probe was in partnership with the Toronto Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, and Criminal Intelligence Services Ontario, and required over 130 Tactical Support Officers from across Ontario, making it the largest tactical operation in DRPS history.