20 arrested in towing industry crime crackdown, Toronto police say

Police have arrested 20 people they say are part of the upper ranks of those planning and organizing violent acts in Toronto's towing industry.

Investigators released details Wednesday of an ongoing wiretap investigation into a criminal organization they say is called the Union, which is allegedly behind a significant number of arsons, shootings and other acts of violence.

The accused range from 17 to 53 years old and face more than 100 charges in total. Toronto police say they partnered with police in Durham, York and the OPP to arrest the accused, who are from several cities, including Bradford, Oshawa, Richmond Hill, Toronto, and Markham.

Towing-related violence is a significant concern for police in Toronto, who say there have been 63 shooting and firearm discharge incidents in 2024 related to tow-truck disputes, accounting for almost 13 per cent of all such incidents. 

The arrests announced Wednesday are significant, Toronto police chief Supt. Joe Matthews said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

"It's quite telling that none of them have criminal records or are before the courts, because they are the higher level," Matthews said.

The announcement comes two days after Peel police said they arrested 18 people and seized more than $4.2 million in assets after dismantling an alleged Brampton-based organized criminal network linked to the towing industry.

Matthews told reporters Wednesday that a publication ban prevented him from speaking to any possible connections between the two cases. 

"Extreme acts of violence were prevented by this investigation," he said.

The accused are due to appear in court through June and July.