Toronto police seized 78 firearms in a series of raids targeting a notorious street gang, including some multi-coloured guns that they say could be mistaken for water pistols.

More than 800 officers across southern Ontario conducted early Thursday morning raids across the GTA, with 75 individuals linked to the Five Point Generals arrested and more than 1,000 charges laid.

The operation, dubbed Project Patton, took nine months to plan, police said.

Some of the seized guns displayed at the Friday news conference came in teal, gold and orange colours.

Toronto police Deputy Chief Jim Ramer said the different colours were a first for him, adding that it was “very concerning” how easily the guns could be mistaken for a toy.

Officers are being warned not to dismiss any potential gun threats because of their appearance, he said.





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“I commented that the one in orange looked like a water pistol my granddaughter has,” Ramer told reporters.

One suspect was arrested with 60 firearms in a raid that took place last month, making it the largest seizure of guns from one source, Ramer said.

The suspect had picked up the brand new guns in Cornwall and was en route to Toronto when arrested by police, acting Insp. Don Belanger said.

The guns had been purchased in Florida, where police said they retailed for $500, selling in Canada for $4,000.

Belanger declined to comment when asked if the guns were purchased legally in Florida.

In total, 75 handguns, three long guns and 270 rounds of ammunition were seized. A gun manufacturing device was also found with enough parts to make four more firearms, police said.

Drugs including cocaine, fentanyl, carfentanil, heroin and marijuana were seized and $184,000 in cash was confiscated.

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Thirteen suspects arrested in the raids Thursday were previously charged in a 2010 police operation that also targeted the Five Point Generals.

“We’re not so naive, we know that not everyone who goes through the correctional process comes out rehabilitated,” Belanger said. “Unfortunately these people are lured back into gang life and let’s be honest, I don’t think the day will ever come where we can completely stop that.”

Police Chief Mark Saunders said Thursday that the gang, based at Weston Rd. and Lawrence Ave. W., operated as a “highly organized criminal organization” and had a significant impact on violent crime across the city while also having connections in other parts of Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean.

The latest raids took down a significant portion of the gang and its “sophisticated” gun smuggling operation was dismantled, Belanger said.

Premila D'Sa is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @premila_dsa

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