Project Churchill Disrupts Local Gang Activity
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Hamilton Police Service, Halton Regional Police Service, OPP and CISO are announcing the results of Project Churchill, which targeted a Hamilton-based street gang responsible for violent criminal activity across Southern Ontario.
In 2019, Hamilton Police noted a significant rise in violent crime linked to a street gang operating in Hamilton’s downtown core. The group, self-identified as the Hot Mali Squad (HMS), has been connected to drug trafficking, robberies, daytime shootings and homicides. Based primarily in Hamilton, the group has recently expanded to neighbouring jurisdictions, including Brantford, Halton, Waterloo, and Toronto.
“Targeting this violent street gang was crucial in addressing the surge in Hamilton shootings because this group acted at the epicentre of gun violence, fueling fear, instability, and harm in the community,” said Hamilton Police Chief Frank Bergen.
Hamilton Police have experienced a record increase in shootings, with 58 occurrences so far this year.
Project Churchill led to the discovery that HMS was operating as a criminal organization and had built strong links with members of the Dirty South operating in the GTA. The Dirty South is a faction of the Bahamian-based street gang known as One Order. The investigation revealed that local Dirty South members are involved in the smuggling and distribution of illegal firearms obtained in the United States.
On November 13, 2024, Hamilton Police with the assistance of Halton Regional Police Service, Niagara Regional Police Service, London Police Service, Peel Regional Police Service, OPP, and Waterloo Regional Police conducted 17 search warrants as part of the project. Warrants were executed in Hamilton, Niagara Falls, St. Catharines and London.
During Project Churchill, 24 individuals were arrested, 172 charges laid, 14 firearms seized, 880 grams of cocaine, and 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl. There is one individual still wanted and three of the accused are also wanted in connection to crimes in the Bahamas. The following individuals face charges:
Moustapha Abdallah, 20-years-old from Hamilton
- Trafficking Fentanyl x5
Abi Abdullahi-Salah, 24-years-old from Hamilton
- Knowledge of an unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Reckless discharge of a firearm
- Discharge of a firearm with intent
- Possession of a loaded restricted or prohibited firearm
- Fail to comply with an undertaking x2
- Fail to comply with a release order
Tareq Alawad, 28-years-old from St. Catharines
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Fentanyl
- Possession of a Prohibited Weapon
Issa Bechir, 24-years-old from Hamilton
- Trafficking Cocaine x2
- Federal parolee
Terry Blanchette, 57-years-old from London
- Possession for the Purpose of trafficking Fentanyl
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine
- Proceeds of Crime Under $5000
Trey Claybourne, 30-years-old from London
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Fentanyl
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine
Rashad Cooper, 36-years-old, from the Bahamas
- Trafficking Firearms
- Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence
- Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Loaded Firearm
- Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Weapon x3
- Possession of a Loaded Prohibited Firearm x6
- Assault (Domestic)
- Wanted for breaching bail in the Bahamas
Nathaniel Davidson, 39-years-old from London
- Possession of a Loaded Prohibited Firearm
- Possession of a Prohibited Weapon
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine
- Proceeds of Crime Over $5000
- Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Order x5
Sirak Solomon Eskias, 22-years-old from Hamilton
- Trafficking Firearms x3
- Possession of a Loaded Prohibited Firearm x4
- Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Loaded Firearm x2
- Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence x2
- Trafficking Cocaine x14
- Trafficking Fentanyl x11
- Operation while Prohibited
- Utter Threats x2
Dushaun Gray, 30-years-old from Hamilton
- Trafficking Cocaine
- Possession for the Purposes of Trafficking Cocaine
Yared Kidane, 18-years-old from Hamilton
- Possession for the purpose of Trafficking Fentanyl
Devon Deon Laing, 29-years-old from the Bahamas
- Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence
- Wanted for attempted murder in the Bahamas
Ryan MacDonald, 37-years-old from London
- Possession of a Loaded Prohibited Firearm
- Possession of a Prohibited Weapon x2
- Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Order
Robert Mader, 41-years-old from Bahamas
- Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence
- Possession of a Prohibited Weapon
- Proceeds of Crime Under $5000
Cathy Mingo, 62-years-old from Hamilton
- Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence
- Possession of a Prohibited Weapon
- Possession of Proceeds Under $5000
Nawal Mohammed, 18-years-old from Hamilton
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Fentanyl
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine
- Proceeds Over $5000
Ahmed Osman, 20-years-old from Hamilton
- Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
- Robbery
- Trafficking Fentanyl x4
- Trafficking Methamphetamine x2
- Trafficking Cocaine
- Trafficking Opioids
- Trafficking Other drugs
Lisa Seabrook, 47-years-old from London
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Fentanyl
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine
Mazin Sharaf, 22-years-old from Hamilton
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Fentanyl x2
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine
- Proceeds Over $5000
Eric Hilton Stuart, 35-years-old, from the Bahamas
- Trafficking Firearms
- Possession of a Loaded Prohibited Firearm
- Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Loaded Firearm
- Wanted for possession of dangerous drugs in the Bahamas
Marthide Wagnac, 31-years-old from Miami, Florida
- Trafficking Firearms
- Possession of a Loaded Prohibited Firearm x6
- Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
- Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon x3
- Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence
Sabrina Waite, 29-years-old from Hamilton
- Possession of a Loaded Prohibited Firearm
- Possession of a Prohibited Weapon x2
Vada Warrick, 28-years-old from St. Catharines
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Fentanyl
- Possession of a Prohibited Weapon
Filimon Embafrash Weldearegay, 24-years-old from Hamilton
- Trafficking Firearms x3
- Possession of a Loaded Prohibited Firearm x5
- Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Loaded Firearm x2
- Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence x1
- Trafficking Cocaine x11
- Trafficking Fentanyl x13
- Fail To Comply x5
Female, 17-years-old from Hamilton
- Trafficking Fentanyl x2
There is also a warrant out for the following individual:
Corey Salter, 39-years-old from Hamilton
- Trafficking Fentanyl
- Trafficking Methamphetamine
HMS funds its operations primarily through drug trafficking and the sale of illegal firearms. In Hamilton, the gang’s activities were mainly concentrated in specific neighbourhoods (Barton St to Main St and Queen St to James St), with members living in high rises within their designated “turfs.”
“The brazen nature of these shootings reflects a troubling trend: firearms are increasingly in the hands of criminals, fueling a reckless disregard for human life. The indiscriminate and frequent use of guns not only endangers our community but also underscores the urgent need to address the sources of this deadly supply,” said Deputy Chief Ryan Diodati.
“The firearms seized in this investigation are crime guns. They are not firearms legally obtained by responsible gun owners. They are obtained illegally with the intent to be used in criminal offences or trafficked to people who intend to use them in criminal offences. The OPP-led Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit and our partners will continue to work together to remove illegal firearms from our communities and pursue anyone involved in trafficking illegal weapons in the Province of Ontario,” said Acting Detective Superintendent Lee Fulford, OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau.