Project Night Train puts brakes on violent criminal network: Peel cops
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Peel Regional Police say they’ve derailed a second violent home invasion group within a week.
The latest arrests were part of Project Night Train which police say brought down two interconnected criminal networks linked to violent home invasions and jewelry store robberies across the GTA. Last week, the force announced officers had rounded up a group of alleged home invaders as part of Project Ghost.
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Det. Justin Shoniker told reporters Tuesday about the heightened level of violence and brutality utilized during high-end vehicle rip-offs which have included a Mercedes G-Wagon, and a Lamborghini Urus; brazen jewellery store heists; and the thefts of high-end goods — such as Louis Vuitton bags — across the GTA , during an eight-month crime spree, between May to December of 2024.
“I think it just speaks to the level of profitability of what they are going for,” said Shoniker. “There is a lot of money at stake and these offenders are getting money and there is competition.”
“And the level of violence is disturbing and that some of them are so young.”
During 17 robberies, Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich said, 60 people, including nine children, were brutalized and “experienced terror” during home invasions.
Milinovich outlined a few of the home invasions that occurred with one happening on Oct. 15, 2024 in Mississauga’s Glen Erin Dr.-Burnhamthorpe Rd. area, where three suspects burst into a home at 12:34 a.m. and shot the dwelling’s owner, leaving him with life-altering injuries.
In a second brutal crime — a week later on Oct. 22 at 1:20 a.m. — two thugs followed a victim to his Brampton home in the Mississauga Rd.-Queen St. area and demanded his keys before trying to stealing his car.
“The victim was beaten unconscious in front of his family,” said Milinovich. “And then was driven over with his car.”
When Shoniker was asked how the name of Project Night Train came about, he explained all the crimes were at night and during one of the first home invasions, captured on home surveillance, one of investigators said “they came through the front door like a train.”
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Asked whether there are any connections to a separate group of 13 suspects arrested during Project Ghost, a week ago on July 17, Shoniker alleged “there is some connectivity between the two projects.”
“Two of the identified members, during Ghost, were involved with Project Night Train as well,” Shoniker claimed.
The criminals, though organized, operated more like a group of separate cells, not in a so-called “hierarchical” gang.
Shocker said that Night Train would see their group “sharing” members with each other during robberies and they didn’t report up to higher-ups running the rip offs.
Police said 12 people have been arrested and they now face a total of 136 charges with one suspect outstanding on a warrant. Six of those arrested include young offenders.
Police estimate the amount of property stolen totals an estimated $2 million with just about $860,000 recovered.
These facing a myriad of charges are: Burhan Abdulkadir, 29; Jason Cunningham, 30; Neli Deng-Akuk-Ngor, 19; and Hakeem Thomas, 23 — all from Toronto; Mohanja Ravori, 19, and two young offenders — ages 16 and 17 — from Brampton; Doneil Levy-Porter, 19, of no fixed address and a 16-year-old, from Shelburne. Three young people charged are from Mississauga, ages 15, 17 and 18, although the person was 17 at the time of an incident.
An arrest warrant has also been issued for Ali Mahdi, 32, of Toronto.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said he hopes word gets out that “this is a very inconvenient place (Peel) to commit a crime in the country.”
“It is not, if you will be arrested — and those those responsible will be found — it is when.”
Brown added he was “particularly disappointed” that this was an example of the “predatory nature” on young people and using them to commit crimes.
“Never underestimate how sophisticated organized crime is and they feel a young person will be treated differently,” said Brown. “And there are loopholes in our justice system and and will take full advantage of it.”
“They will drive a luxury stolen car through those loopholes with determination.”
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