The Ben Mulroney Show - A major criminal gang broken up by Ontario and Quebec police

Episode Date: December 9, 2025

GUEST:  Hank Idsinga - 640 Toronto Crime Specialist and former police inspector If you enjoyed the podcast, tell a friend! For more of the Ben Mulroney Show, subscribe to the podcast! ⁠⁠⁠���⁠⁠⁠⁠https://link.chtbl.com/bms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also, on youtube -- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@BenMulroneyShow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Ben on Twitter/X at https://x.com/BenMulroney Insta: ⁠⁠⁠@benmulroneyshow⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠@benmulroneyshow⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@benmulroneyshow⁠⁠⁠ Executive Producer:  Mike Drolet Reach out to Mike with story ideas or tips at [e-mail] Enjoy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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festive shows, rides, and holiday treats. Plus, Coca-Cola is best. back with Canada's kindness community, celebrating acts of kindness nationwide, with a chance at 100,000 donation for the winning community and a 2026 holiday caravan stop. Learn more at canadaswunderland.com. On this show, we try to highlight the most egregious crimes that come across our newsfeeds. And we try to highlight them so that we can prepare ourselves and we can make the more information we have, the safer we can feel. This story that we are about to share with you defies logic as far as I'm concerned in terms of sort of the breadth and scope of criminality.

in a york region there was a number of arrests 13 people arrested in something called project wrangler it was an organized crime group and we're going to delve into how unique this crime group is but this group has been they laid 167 charges against 15 people 13 arrested two still at large including four youths so to break this down to find out what this group is and what sorts of crimes they've been responsible for. Please welcome to the show. 640 Toronto Crime Specialist, former police inspector, Hank Idsinga. Hank, welcome.

Hey, good morning, Ben. Great to be on with you. Yeah. So, I mean, listen, they, from what I've read, this is a bad group of people who've been doing a lot of bad stuff. What sorts of crimes have they been responsible for? Well, you're looking at everything from murder to firearms, to robberies, to conspiracies,

I'm participating in a criminal organization. And what's unique about this group is we've got people from Niagara Falls all the way up to Rumuski in Quebec and in between. Some of them from Peer region, some of them from Toronto as well, really stretching across that 401 in QAW corridor and committing these offenses. So fantastic work by York Police, as always. They do a bang up job. We've seen some really good announcements from them over the last couple of months. when it comes to some of these home invasion arrests and homicide arrests, and they're doing fantastic work up there.

So we'll see how this one plays out in court. You know, these participating in a criminal organization charges are pretty tough in courts, and sometimes you see them end up in something as small as a peace bond for punishment, but sometimes there's some pretty good sentences that are drawn out of those. So hopefully these two outstanding parties are brought into custody pretty quick, and nobody gets bail and they get the decent sentences at the end of the process.

Hank, what can you tell us about Project Rangler? Well, I don't know too much about the inside details of it, but usually a project like this, it's a multi-jurisdictional investigation. So that means at some point in time, and it looks like it was in 2024, York police linked one of the occurrences that they were investigating to another occurrence

in another jurisdiction. So they would then go to the Ontario major case management, office and say, hey, listen, we need a multi-jurisdictional case manager assigned to this. We've got offenses that qualify for it, and they'd start the process of getting investigators from York, Peel, Toronto, and Quebec together to start working on this investigation under one major case manager. So it's been going on for a year and a half. And these things can start with something as simple as ballistics, right?

a shell casing from one scene in York region getting tied to another scene in Quebec and diving into that and saying, well, it looks like that gun hasn't changed hands. It looks like it's the same group of people and you'd make those connections with some of the software that's used in Ontario, a piece of software called Powercase that was brought in after the Bernardo investigation. I revealed some shortcomings in the communication in the system and away they would go. And like I said, it looks like they were working on this for about a year and a half and some good results at the end of it. Yeah, Hank, I think one of the things that will be shocking to people when they discover it is that this criminal organization, it operated

unlike a traditional gang, didn't it? Well, it looks like there's certainly a little more advanced in your traditional gang. I never liked giving gangs too much credit for being organized. Really, when you're dealing with a bunch of street kids who are out there committing street-level robberies and moving some drugs and getting involved in prostitution and human trafficking, these guys seem a little bit more advanced. It looks like a couple of the main players are in their mid-20s, and they've also got a whole bunch of teenagers involved as well, including some that we can't name, including a young lady as well, 19 years old from Durham region. and if what the police are alleging is true,

they're committing offenses right along that 401 corridor right into another province and right down to Niagara Falls as well. And, you know, that's becoming a big concern. If you follow the news, London police, they're doing some great work out there as well, but I believe they put out a news release yesterday saying, we've had six shootings over the weekend, and that's unheard of. We used to have, you know, six shootings in a year.

And there's a problem here. And they made some good arrests as well and did some good work there. But it's becoming a real problem along that 4-1 corridor. But Hank, like when I hear and when I read that the older members plan the targets, they manage the weapons and the profits, and it's the younger recruits, some as young as 14, that are used as drivers, as lookouts, and they participate in the violent acts.

I look at that and I say, we got to do something about the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Yeah, you know what? I think it's more of these kids are kind of cutting their teeth and trying to establish their street credibility for the organization as opposed to the older people recruiting them in the hopes of escaping lengthy prison sentences themselves. You know, I think that does play a part for sure where they do like to use the younger people to actually commit the offenses. But changes to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, we've said it before and I'll say it again. that legislation has to be ever evolving based on what we're seeing in society. And they're trying to make amendments to it. It's a slow, slow process.

It's been through countless iterations since it was introduced as the Young Offenders Act back in the 70s, right? Before even our time. But that constantly has to change to keep up with the type of acts that we're seeing, these acts of violence that we're seeing and these firearms offenses, that we're seeing over the last few years are just absolutely unbelievable. People shouldn't have to live under the shadow of that anywhere. Hank, I want to switch gears and talk to you about another issue.

There was a story in the news about a man who drove accidentally into a daycare. And because of that, the Ontario government is creating a $20 million fund to install concrete barriers at high-risk daycare sites. but from what we understand, it's completely, it was completely random that this guy drove into a daycare. So is this an overreaction? You know, I don't know. We're seeing things like this about once every month or so in the GTA.

In this case, it happened to be a daycare. But we see this with cars being driven out of control into storefronts into houses quite often. So I'm kind of surprised that there isn't legislate. to begin with surrounding daycares and creating those barriers and those barricades around there. So I think you really have to look at the different venues and whether you're going to put up those barriers and barricades. I mean, that particular daycare, and I'm familiar with the daycare, it takes a bit of effort to get a car up to speed and to get over the curb that's already there in place. You know, you're seeing a lot of natural barricades being constructed these days with new construction.

Outside of course, Key is a great example. But if someone's driving a large four by four and wants to gun it over something that's six inches high or eight inches high curb height, and that daycare is much higher, you know, it's a good, I'd say a 10 to 12 inch curb outside the front doors of that place that that person drove over. So exactly what caused it. They were a little bit elderly. I shouldn't qualify it that much, but they've laid dangerous driving, which shows the police believe there is intent there to commit that offense. Oh, they, oh, they, I thought, I thought they said it wasn't intentional.

Yeah, while that dangerous driving charge is going to be, to be somewhat tough to prove, and, you know, there's some of the essential elements there that need to be proven. So when you say intentional, did they intentionally drive into that date care? I'm certainly not saying that, but they've committed some sort of act while behind the wheel of that car. Gotcha. And whether that's bending down to pick up a newspaper and hitting the gas, it could be something as simple as that. You know, as opposed to a medical episode or an impaired driving. Hank It's Inga.

Thank you so much. Really appreciate your insights. Anytime, Ben. Thank you. All right. Let's hear from you. We've heard of a series of major arrests over the past few months. Do you get the sense police are getting a handle on these criminal gangs,

or is it just the tip of the iceberg? Build, play, and display with the 3-1 Megablock's preschool sets. The building go race car revamps into a pickup truck and hot ride, and the build and enchant unicorn transforms into a puppy and Pegasus. Each easy-to-build set comes with rolling wheels, 26 blocks, and easy-to-read building steps, compatible with other megablock sets for endless big building fun. Shop 3-1 megablocks at Walmart for ages 3-plus. Get to know yourself and your roots better with Ancestry DNA.

Want to know where your family comes from in northern France? Maybe you'd like to see how your genes influence certain traits like diet, fitness, and allergies. There's so much of you and your heritage to discover. Visit ancestry.ca and get started with an ancestry DNA kit today. Welcome back to the Ben Mulroney show. All right, before the break, we were talking with Hank Insinga, our crime specialist, about some massive arrests in Peel region. And we want to ask you, give us a call.

Do you feel that with these, with these, these, uh, this announcement of massive, a massive bust in Peel region that maybe the cops are turning the corner and getting a handle on some of the crime that we feel is out of control. It gives a call 416-8-8-8-2-25 talk. I would love to hear from you. Let's start with Jim.

Jim, welcome to the show. Good morning. How you doing? I'm okay. That's good. I don't even think they've scratched the surface, to be honest. I have a friend of mine, as I was telling your screener, who owns a jewelry store up here, up in Barry. And he's been robbed four times in two years and three times in the last 16 months. Say that again, please.

He's been robbed three times in the last 16 months. Wow. And it's braced, middle of the day, walking, and have to walk through a mall to get to him. I'm guessing it's a bunch of people with face masks on. No. No. There's nothing. There's nothing. They're that brazen. They are not afraid. So, that's what makes me terrified. Wow. These guys feel there's no recourse at all.

What is your friend doing about all this? There is nothing you can do. He limits the stock he puts out now. He's in a mall, so they have to be open. It's not like he's on a side street jewelry where, you know, you buzz the people in, you buzz the people out. because he chose to go to the format he's in. He's, you know, they're having a tough time. He was in a little back to the mall. Is he feeling like maybe he wants to leave the mall? He's feeling like he wants to get out of the business.

Oh, wow. And this is a third generation jeweler. Right back, they come from Romania. And they are now there to the point where they just, they don't keep anything out on the floor. It hurts business. It makes him look cheap because he doesn't have the capital of the, you know, the Michael Hills or, you know, behind him to back him.

He's an independent. Now, have they caught any of these guys? They caught the last two. They actually caught that it was on the news. They actually caught them on the 400 by Moulson Park, the one car. And the other car they got in, I believe it was Markham somewhere. And did he get any of his stuff back? He's got nothing back.

nothing he's out about two and a half million dollars whoa whoa whoa whoa he's out what about two and a half million dollars are you kidding how two and a half million yeah yeah he um he carried a a very specialty line of watches yeah that the average watch was about 45,000 dollars oh my god I'm so sorry I'm so sorry that this happened to him. They make all their own jewelry, so they've got all their gold and all their diamonds. Wow. Yeah, he got head-heart. Yeah, geez.

Hey, Jim, thank you so much for calling and sharing this story. I feel terrible for your friend, and I wish him the very best. Get out and support the small guys. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, look, we talk about it all the time that entrepreneurs are facing incredible headwins in this country, but the fact that crime is yet another headwind. It's just, it's just, it breaks my heart. That's insane.

I wonder if he's out the two and a half million because the cops are holding on to the evidence. He said he didn't get anything back. Well, he didn't get anything back. That's terrible. Give us a call. 416-870-6400. Let us know where you live.

Let us know what it's like where you live. Do you feel like it's getting better? It's getting worse. Is the crime everywhere? Do you feel like the cops are doing what they need to do to keep you safe? Give us a call. We'd love to hear from you 416-8-8-6400 or 1-8-2-25 talk. This is all with the backdrop of this massive bust in Peel Region 13 arrested in something called Project Rangler,

targeting a very sophisticated organized crime group. And look, maybe this will signal to other people in that. that underworld, that the cops are organized, and they're going to, they're coming for you. They're coming for you. You might want to find a different line of work. 416-870-6400 or 1-8-225 talk. Yeah, look, I love hearing these stories, and I hope that they will signal a warning to the criminal element.

Let's check in with Glenn. Glenn, welcome to the show. Hi, Ben. So I have two points. One is, I believe, if it's a young offender who's charged, their parents or caregiver should also be pacing the charge. If it's a repeat offender. Yeah. You know, everybody makes mistakes.

And if you have a 14, 15-year-old, which we're hearing with some of these gun incidents, especially when it's more serious. Yeah. And also, I spent time in. You think the parents need skin in the game? Of course they do. There has to be some accountability. We hear about home invasions. 13, 14, 15 year olds who are being arrested and the home invasion is happening at 2, 3 o'clock

in the morning. Why is your 13 year old not at home? If they're not at home, you need to be held accountable. The second point I wanted to make, I spent some time in Singapore where we have corporate punishment. I think, again, probably if you're under the age of 18 and you're convicted of a serious crime that's weapons related, that's violence, whether it's robbering a jury store, You just mentioned, you just heard about the $2 million loss. If it's attacking a jury store, then there should be corporal punishment because right now the kids, the adults, they're getting slap on the wrist. We know that there's no jail. They get down.

So I think corporal punishment would definitely change people's views. Well, Glenn, I want to thank you very much for the call. Thanks for your opinions on this one. Appreciate it. And yeah, look, we're now at the point. We're now at the point where, like, people are suggesting. in corporal punishment because that's how bad stuff is getting. Mark, welcome to the show.

Hi. How are you? Good, good. Yeah, I just want to say, unfortunately, like, the cops have always been doing a good job. It's not them. They're not part of the problem. It's really the bail system that continue lets these people out over and over and over again. As I was saying to Mike there, I'd be surprised if most, if not all of those 13 that are arrested

that are already out on bail. And that's the problem. Yeah, I really hope. I really hope not. Like at some point, I want these people to be affected personally. Like if they have, listen,

if this crime stuff is a side hustle for them and they actually have a job, I want that pressure put on them. I want, and if you're going to, if they're going to come out of jail, I want there to be some sort of lean on somebody's house, you know?

Like, that to me is how this stuff should go. But you're probably right, my friend. You're probably right. It's great that the cops caught them, but then what? Now what do we do with them? Hey, thanks for the call.

Let's go to Bobby. Bobby, welcome to the Ben Moranee show. Bobby, Ben, always a pleasure. I live in Thornt Hill, Ben. I could tell you I had such a peaceful calm upbringing, literally zero crime. The thought of a home invasion of a carjacking happening was like non-existent.

Literally, my entire youth, I can't recollect anything, Maybe a very isolated incident or two. And now, I'm telling you, within a five-minute radius, there's been probably a dozen home invasions, shootings. I had a buddy who was carjacked at knife point by three guys who ripped them out of his car at a plaza. I mean, I'm talking about Thorne Hill, man. Yeah, no, no, it's crazy, right?

It's a very calm community, okay? And now it's turned into, if I'm leading my house for an extended period of time, I have in the back of my mind, put things away, hide them in the house. not the safe, like, yeah, but when I go on vacation, I used to never think about my house getting, you're right,

you're right, yeah, that's a, that's a thought now that a lot of us have, those of us who can take vacation. Hey, thanks for the call.

I appreciate it, Ben. Let's go to Thomas. Thomas, thanks so much for waiting. Good morning, Ben. Great show and great topic. Thank you. They say drastic,

what drastic means or, you know, when drastic times, drastic measures type of thing. Yeah. What happened recently, and I'm a York region resident, By the way, I'm going to ask you to make your point in about 30 seconds, my friend.

We'll do. And video shows the police holding out a gun, chasing the thief. You know what, Ben, shoot them. Why do you have the gun out? If you have the gun out, shoot them and see how many more people are going to be robbing these places and hurting people. That's the best, Ben. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

Yeah, this is where we are. People are feeling a little desperate, especially. if they get arrested and they're right out on bail. The world is changing from the misuse of AI and the rise of deepfakes to the dangerous spread of misinformation. It's getting harder for Canadians to set. separate fact from fiction. That's why having a trustworthy news source is vital. At global news, we're committed to objective journalism that cuts through the noise.

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