York Regional Police Fights Violent Crime
A series of highly impactful operations helped make York Region a safer place to live and work in 2024
Project Lookout had eyes on Gun and Drug trafficking Network
Violent criminals rely on guns to commit crimes and protect their illegal assets.
In June 2024, York Regional Police took some of those illegal guns out of their hands after an investigation called Project Lookout.
Together with partners at Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police, Ontario Provincial Police, the Canada Border Services Agency and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), York Regional Police seized 18 firearms and $2.5 million worth of drugs in the operation.
York Regional Police also arrested 20 people associated with a street gang called the Haywan Gang, laying nearly 300 charges related to weapons and drugs. The gang was first formed in Toronto, but eventually made its way to the south-end of York Region to traffic guns and drugs.
Nearly all the seized guns were smuggled into Canada from the United States.
Project Lookout By the Numbers
20
arrests
295
charges laid
$244,335
in cash seized
$255,000
worth of vehicles and luxury watches
Sky falls on dangerous CrimE Group
Violent home invasions. Armed robberies. Drug trafficking.
No criminal activity was off limits for a criminal network York Regional Police dismantled in a year-long investigation dubbed Project Skyfall.
The operation resulted in 17 suspects arrested and charged with a combined 83 criminal offences. But it began on Christmas Eve in 2023, when officers responded to a home invasion in Vaughan.
Police arrived at the home after receiving a 9-1-1 call from a resident being held at gunpoint as suspects demanded money. Officers managed to take one suspect into custody while two others fled.
The arrest and investigation that followed led Hold-Up Unit officers to uncover and shut down the multi-faceted criminal group.
“We believe that three potential home invasions or armed robberies were going to occur that were disrupted,” said Detective Sergeant Ryan Boulay at a news conference in December.
At the time of the announcement, seven of the suspects were already released on bail.
“If it makes them money, be it armed robbery, trafficking in drugs or terrorizing a family within their own home, criminals will jump at the opportunity, and they will repeat this behaviour time and time again,” Deputy Chief Alvaro Almeida said.
“They should be held in custody, but unfortunately, they have been released.”
Task Force Takes on carJackings
With concerns about carjackings rising in our community, a new task force set up shop to put a stop to this violent crime in our region.
York Region had seen a 295 percent rise in carjacking incidents between 2020 and 2024. Even after helping to launch a Provincial Carjacking Task Force in fall of 2023, police continued to respond to an increasing number of carjackings last year.
The concerning rise led to the formation of the YRP Carjacking Task Force, which included investigators from across the service who were redeployed to the team.
Quickly, these newly assigned officers made an impact. Since its launch in September 2024, the team has already made 29 arrests, laying 117 criminal charges.
Police have also recovered 15 vehicles worth more than $2 million. The task force continues to operate in 2025, and early indicators show a significant decline in carjackings in the calendar’s first three months.
