With its lakeside views, expansive glass exterior and extensive list of perks — including an in-house spa and fitness centre, the Waterpark City condominium complex on the western edge of Toronto’s downtown entertainment district caters to an elite crowd of self-described yuppies and young professionals.
But the Fort York neighbourhood address was discovered to have residents of another kind when, late yesterday, police knocked down the door of a sixth storey penthouse to discover three young men, more than $1-million worth of drugs, a stolen gun and all the equipment necessary to cook methamphetamines and crack.
Police said today the bust at the most unexpected location started with tips about street-level dealing in Toronto’s east end and ended with the collapse of a mid-level operation that was feeding dealers across the city.
Three men, between the ages of 22 and 25, were arrested late yesterday in the sixth-floor penthouse, which police described as a virtual clearinghouse of illegal substances, from ecstasy and marijuana to cocaine, crack and methamphetamines.
“This is the first time I have seen such a variety as this, especially in an upscale condominium complex,” said 55 Division Detective Mark Randle who, with Detective Terry Wray, led two teams of undercover and uniformed officers during an intensive two-day investigation that led to the downtown bust.
A large quantity of ammunition, a 9 mm Smith and Weston handgun that had been reported stolen from a Peel District address in 2006, a replica pellet gun and a bulletproof vest were also seized during the search of the apartment, which was also believed to have been used as a crack cocaine and methamphetamine cookhouse.
“As we all know, meth labs are very volatile. If they are off in the smallest degree in their mixtures, it causes an explosion. In that building, it could be catastrophic,” said Det. Randle.
Police would not comment on the three suspects who appeared in a downtown court this morning, other than to confirm that two of them have had previous run-ins with police.
Property managers at 219 Fort York Blvd. were not available for comment this afternoon, but an employee described the building as an exclusive address ideal for young couples.
Officers showcased rows of seized narcotics at 55 Division headquarters today as Det. Randle described the penthouse as a headquarters for a mid-level drug organization, likely answering to a larger organization above them.
Based on the quantity and variety of drugs seized, he said the suspects had likely been operating without notice for some time.
Among the seizure was 1,300 grams of ecstasy and 2,100 grams of cocaine — drugs popular in the youth-oriented downtown Entertainment District — as well as 1,200 grams of heroin, and 2,400 grams of methamphetamines, a damaging and inexpensive drug popular in lower-income neighbourhoods.
“It was intended for not only the street-level people but the young kids and also — due to the types of drugs and the quantity, probably for people with means,” Det. Randle said.
While officers were buzzing about oddity of a massive drug lab running out of a downtown condo, Det. Randle said police initiatives and TAVIS officers have placed a deal of pressure on the public housing projects commonly associated with drug dens of this nature.
“When they realize the pressure is on them, they go places where they don’t stand out as much. They’ll go to another area, a high-scale building, a condominium or apartment where they are not as well known and try to fly under the radar.”
Nathanial Tarlo, 23, Mark Szczygiel, 24 and David Back, 22, have been charged with a total of 58 charges stemming from the possession of drugs and weapons.
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