The Toronto Police Service (TPS) have unveiled the results of an investigation into tow truck wiretaps, saying 20 people have been arrested with more than 100 charges laid.
TPS says Project Yankee saw its investigators work closely with other police forces, including Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS), York Regional Police (YRP), and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
TPS says 20 people were charged in the probe, with 111 charges laid in total. Of the individuals arrested, TPS said 10 have been charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to commit murder.
On Wednesday, investigators said that since early 2023, Toronto and Greater Toronto Area (GTA) police forces have seen a significant surge in violence tied to escalating turf wars within the towing industry.
The conflict—said to be driven by rival individuals and organized groups competing for territory and control—has been marked by a wave of homicides, targeted shootings, arsons, acts of intimidation, and extortion, according to investigators.
“We remain committed to addressing tow truck industry-related crimes with a service-wide approach, and will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners,” said Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw.
“This is a challenge affecting the city of Toronto and other parts of the GTA, which makes collaboration essential. This kind of violence has devastating effects on our communities, and we will continue to do everything we can to stop it.”
Toronto police officials said Project Yankee zeroed in on a network of individuals who called themselves “The Union” — a group alleged to be behind a series of violent incidents aimed at seizing control of the towing industry.
Investigators say the group’s activities were concentrated in Toronto’s east end and extended into Durham and York Regions, where they used violence as a tool to assert dominance and eliminate competition.
Premier Doug Ford commented on the arrest, saying those responsible need to be held accountable.
“There are some really good and honest tow truck drivers that are just trying to make a living, and then there’s some really bad dudes, and they’re just bad,” said Ford. “If they start shooting up, they need to go to jail. They need their tow truck taken away, and the company they work for needs to be held accountable.”
Ford also took the opportunity to call for bail reform once again from the federal government. “If you commit a heinous crime or you hurt the community, you need to go to jail for a long time. That message goes to all their buddies, all the gangsters, and they’re saying, ‘Hey, we aren’t going to get a slap on the wrist. We’re going to a federal penitentiary for years.’ That will wake them up real quick.”
List of 20 arrested, charged
- Abdalwahd El-Taii, 53, Toronto
Criminal organization participation & commission (extortion, firearm discharge) - Jensikumar Joseph, 41, Oshawa
Instructing and conspiring to commit murder for a criminal organization - Brandon Stock, 31, Toronto
Criminal organization offences (extortion, conspiracy to commit murder) - Farhad Zoghi-Lahmi, 41, Richmond Hill
Instructing and conspiring to commit murder for a criminal organization - Talha Thanvi, 29, Richmond Hill
Instructing and conspiring to commit murder for a criminal organization (multiple counts) - Mauran Balasivam, 33, Oshawa
Arson and conspiracy to commit murder for a criminal organization - Nirrosan Raviraj, 21, Markham
Conspiracy to commit murder, weapons trafficking, and unauthorized firearm possession - Haider Eltaii, 37, Vaughan
Conspiracy to commit murder, assault, obstruction, and organized crime charges - Male Youth (17), Markham
Organized crime and weapons-related charges, including conspiracy to commit murder - Ahmad Faqiri, 31, Bradford
Fraud over $5,000, conspiracy to commit fraud - Alex Yizhak, 34, Bradford
Conspiracy to commit assault and obstruction - Ali Yakobi, 25, Toronto
Arson, vehicle theft, drug trafficking, and mischief charges - Igor Sayed, 23, Toronto
Fraud over $5,000, conspiracy to commit fraud, public mischief - Gokilan Balamurale, 24, Markham
Multiple counts of conspiracy to commit murder and organized crime participation - Anush Sathiyakumar, 19, Toronto
Firearm and weapon storage offences, tampering with serial numbers - Arussan Ravikumar, 21, Markham
Firearm and weapons trafficking conspiracy - Sergei Manukian, 35, Toronto
Assault and conspiracy to commit assault - Brannan Balasegar, 23, Toronto
Multiple counts of conspiracy to commit murder and property crime - Male Youth (17), Toronto
Weapons trafficking and unauthorized firearm possession - Male Youth (17), Toronto
Same as above (weapons trafficking and firearm possession)
According to the TPS, in 2024, 63 shooting and firearm discharge incidents were linked to tow truck-related disputes, accounting for almost 13 per cent of all shootings and firearm discharges in Toronto. So far in 2025, they currently account for approximately 15 per cent of the total.
The details of Project Yankee came on the same week Peel Regional Police (PRP) revealed the outcome of a significant investigation into criminal activity within the towing industry, reporting the recovery of millions of dollars tied to an organized network and 18 arrests.