Almost all illegal guns coming into Brampton and Mississauga are from the U.S.

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Published November 30, 2020 at 11:42 am

Peel Police say 91 per cent of all illegal handguns seized in Brampton and Mississauga this year came from the United States.

In a presentation to the Peel Police Services Board on recent gang arrests, Chief Nishan Duraiappah said the flow of guns into Canada continues.

“We know this has been a topic of discussion in the past,” the chief said. “We are seeing assault rifles and fully modified handguns.”

Last year Peel Police indicated 74 per cent of guns seized here were from south of the border.

He said many of the guns were seized as part of Project Siphon, a recent case that led to 88 arrests and 800 criminal charges. Thirty-four guns were recovered as part of this operation.

Project Siphon is considered to be the largest criminal investigation case in the police department’s history, but Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich said it was not a typical gang sweep.

Milinovich said with so many gang members now taken off the streets, a void has been created, but new police initiatives are looking at ways to make sure that void is not filled by others.

He said the broader measures being undertaken by the department will create opportunities to engage young people to prevent them from joining the gangster lifestyle.

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