2 year investigation results in 19 arrests in GTHA

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Three Hamilton men and another from Oakville are among the 19 people arrested today that are alleged to have ties to southern Italy’s ‘Ndrangheta Mafia. It’s one of the largest criminal organizations in the world – and one that’s said to have made more than 50 billion dollars in just one year, with drug trafficking being a major source of revenue. The arrests were made across the GTHA and police from Hamilton, Niagara and Brantford were involved.

The arrests marked the culmination of a two year multi-jurisdictional and international investigation of one of the largest crime groups in the world. 25 search warrants were executed and about 260 officers in the GTHA arrested 19 men from the ‘Ndrangheta criminal organization.

Hamilton police helped in the arrests of four men in connection with the crime group which is made up of several Mafia families found all over the world from Italy to Canada and the Caribbean. A CHCH viewer sent in a photo of a tactical team taking down 58-year old Adam D’Andrea. He’s facing several charges including possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and careless storage of a firearm and ammunition.

The other men arrested include Antonio Agresta, 43, of Hamilton. He is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine).

Carlo Fazzari, 41, of Hamilton, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine).

Antonio Mediati, 66, from Oakville, is charged with 2 counts of trafficking in cocaine and 2 counts of possession of proceeds of crime.

After their raids, authorities now have three firearms, about 8.5kgs of what they believe is cocaine and seven kgs of marihuana, cash and five cars.