Charges have been reduced for some of the suspects in a major organized crime and police corruption investigation in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) as the case progresses in Superior Court.
Under Project South led by York Region police, 27 individuals, including seven Toronto police officers and one retired constable, were charged with various crimes such as bribery, conspiracy to commit murder, and drug trafficking.
Among the key figures in the investigation are Brian Da Costa and Toronto police Constable Timothy Barnhardt, who initially faced a significant number of charges when arrests were made in February. However, recent court filings reveal that Barnhardt now faces 10 charges instead of the initial 17, and some of the charges against Da Costa have also been reduced.
Allegations include Barnhardt providing confidential information to Da Costa, who is believed to be a central figure in a criminal network, leading to a suspected murder plot against a corrections officer and other criminal activities.
Several other officers involved in Project South also have fewer charges against them, a common practice in complex prosecutions involving multiple defendants.
The case is set to resume in September, with court documents linking Project South to former Canadian Olympian Ryan Wedding, accused of operating an international drug trafficking ring. Investigations have indicated a potential connection between a man assisting in cocaine shipments for Wedding and the plot to kill a Toronto corrections officer, prompting the Project South inquiry. Notably, this individual has not been charged in relation to Project South.