-from torontosun.com-

By Rob Lamberti

Distribution network based in Port Perry, Cops say

A Port Perry restaurant owner, a professional poker player and a prospect member of the Hells Angels Keswick chapter are among 23 arrested in connection with a multimillion-dollar drug operation based in north Durham.

The list of seizures in Project Lynx, a four-month probe that ended Thursday, include 104 kilos of marijuana, 600 grams of cocaine, more than 25,000 Ecstasy pills and 21 grams of magic mushrooms — all worth about $5.5 million.

Durham drug cops also scooped up a loaded Mac-12 firearm, two handguns and two other long barrel weapons, and seized seven vehicles and about $200,000 cash.

Police executed 13 search warrants in Port Perry, Oshawa, Whitby, Toronto, Haliburton, Bracebridge and Kawartha Lakes. At two homes, they found chemicals used to make cannabis resin.

Investigators believe the distribution network based in Port Perry supplied drugs to communities in Ontario and in Quebec.

IN ARM’S REACH

Two suspects were caught in Bracebridge as they were delivering a load of dope to Rouyn-Noranda, police said.

Intelligence Insp. Tom Cameron said the loaded Mac-12, a semi-automatic that looks like a machine pistol, was found in a marijuana field in arm’s reach of suspects as they harvested their illicit crop by raiding police.

“One didn’t know everybody in the group,” Cameron said.

“As far as the level of sophistication, we were a little surprised at the extent which our Port Perry (suspects) … were allegedly involved in drug trafficking.”

Police filed a total of 129 charges against the 23 suspects, including pro poker player James Nixon, 37, of Oshawa, charged with possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and marijuana; Keswick Hells prospect Zachary Tsapoito, 23, of Greenbank, charged with trafficking cocaine and possessing property obtained by crime; and restaurant owner Thai Cuu, 28, of Port Perry, charged with trafficking cocaine and Ecstasy and conspiring to traffic Ecstasy.