Toronto Police Arrest 10 Including 6 Youths Involved in Pharmacy Robberies

Toronto police has arrested 10 people for 26 violent robberies at pharmacies across the city between December 2022 and February 2023. Six of the people involved were young persons said to have been “lured” by quick money and were organized by “older people.”

Last year, there were a total of 124 pharmacy robberies in Toronto and this year, till now, there have been 45 robberies. These accused typically went into pharmacies with guns, knives, or used physical violence and stole narcotics which include prescription-grade oxycontin and fentanyl. According to the police, one pill of these drugs can be sold for upwards of $60 in some areas.

Insp. Rich Harris said that the young persons involved in the robberies were “lured” by the quick money. He added that “older people” are “involved in organizing these crimes.” He urged pharmacies to “invest in good surveillance cameras, panic alarms, time delayed safes and make sure those safes are being closed at all times” if possible.

The suspects are facing 60 charges combined including charges for weapons offenses. The investigation called “Project Mayhem” that lead to the arrest of these suspects was carried out by York Region Hold Up Squad, the Peel Region Central Robbery Bureau, and the Halton Region Robbery Unit.

Vineet Washington