20 Arrests, 111 Charges Laid by Toronto Police in Operation Targeting Tow Truck Syndicate

Twenty people are facing more than 100 charges, including 52 counts of conspiracy to commit murder, in connection with a series of violent towing industry incidents throughout the Toronto region over the last two years.

Investigators launched a wiretap operation known as Project Yankee last October to collect evidence against a group known as “The Union” which was believed to be engaged in criminal activities and violence aimed at seizing control of the towing industry, Toronto Police Chief Superintendent Joe Matthews said during a June 18 press conference. 

The violence, which included several arsons, was mainly focused on the east side of Toronto and into the Durham and York regions, Matthews said.

Over the course of the probe, investigators collected evidence that they say identifies “The Union” as the criminal organization responsible for multiple acts of violence, intimidation and extortion. 

“As a result of the wiretap investigation, numerous members of “The Union” are now facing charges related to directing and participating in the activities of a criminal organization, along with multiple conspiracies to commit first-degree murder,” Matthews said. “Several acts of violence on a mass scale were deterred and prevented as a result.”

The investigation ended on June 11 with the execution of 14 search warrants and the arrest of nine individuals, he said. Police services in Durham and York regions, along with the Ontario Provincial Police, assisted in the operation that resulted in a total of 20 arrests and 111 charges over the course of the investigation. 

Matthews noted that several of the suspects have no prior criminal history, saying they belonged to the “upper echelon” of the criminal organization. Many of them are believed to be tow truck operators, which he said suggested “the violence largely stems from territorial disputes.” 

“It’s quite telling that none of them have criminal records or before the courts, because they are the higher level,” he said. 

Police also seized two firearms and four vehicles, including three armour-plated Cadillac SUVs.

Matthews said the confiscation of armoured vehicles is “extremely uncommon” and “shows the level of sophistication” of the organization.

Matthews also showed video footage of two purported arson incidents from early this year: one in Toronto that involved a Molotov cocktail, and another in Whitby, Ont., where a vehicle was set ablaze. Police described both incidents as calculated acts of intimidation directed at individuals in the towing industry.

“We’re removing the people that are coordinating these acts of violence, and we’re taking them off the streets,” Matthews said. “We are extremely confident that these arrests will have an impact on the violence in our city.”

Toronto police also made public earlier this year video footage linked to a separate series of arrests related to tow truck-linked shootings. Matthews said a court-imposed publication ban prevents police from answering questions about any connections between the cases.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said there were more than 60 tow truck-related disputes in the region in 2024, with incidents continuing right up until the conclusion of Project Yankee.

Seventeen men and three male youths remain in custody as a result of the joint police operation and are facing a total of 111 charges, linked to extortion, arson, assault, fraud, and firearm-related offences.

Charged with conspiracy to commit murder are Jensikumar Joseph, 41, and Mauran Balasivam, 33, both of Oshawa; Brandon Stock, 31, and Brannan Balasegar, 23, of Toronto; Farhad Zoghi-Lahmi, 41, and Talha Thanvi, 29, both of Richmond Hill; Nirrosan Raviraj, 21, and Gokilan Balamurale, 24, of Markham; and Haider Eltaii, 37, of Vaughan. One of the 17-year-old youths is also facing conspiracy to commit murder charges.

All nine men and the teenager also face a litany of additional charges.

Also charged in the investigation are Ahmad Faquirin, 31, and Alex Yizhak, 34, both of Bradford; Arussan Ravikumar, 21, and a 17-year-old youth of Markham; and Abdalwahd El-Taii, 53, Ali Yakobi, 25, Igor Sayed, 23, Anush Sathiyakumar, 19, Sergei Manukian, 35, and one 17-year-old youth, all of Toronto.