The alleged drug trafficker accused of obtaining confidential information from a Toronto police officer, which was used in an alleged conspiracy to kill a senior corrections officer, was granted a $1.5-million bail Wednesday in Toronto.
Brian Da Costa, 43, will be released on house arrest with three sureties while facing 16 charges, including bribing a peace officer, trafficking drugs and police uniforms and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
The conditions of his release include surrendering his passport, using a GPS ankle monitor, to not possess any weapons, and no access to a cell phone and a computer.
“We are very grateful to the Justice of the Peace for her carefully considered reasons,” said Craig Bottomley, Da Costa’s lawyer, in a statement.
“Mr. DaCosta and I look forward to attacking these allegations in Court.”
Last month, York police Deputy Chief Ryan Hogan described Da Costa as a key figure in a GTA-based criminal network allegedly running a sophisticated drug trafficking operation with international ties, as he provided details on a months-long corruption probe dubbed Project South.
Seven current Toronto police officers and one retired constable have been charged alongside 19 civilians in the wide-ranging corruption and organized crime investigation. None of the charges against them have been tested in court.
Five of the officers charged have alleged ties to Da Costa, according to Hogan. The most significant of those is Const. Timothy Barnhardt, Da Costa’s co-accused. The 12 Division officer was described as the “genesis” of Project South, which began last June after York police officers uncovered an alleged conspiracy to kill a senior corrections officer at an Ontario detention centre.
York investigators allege that Barnhardt, 56, accessed private information about the senior corrections officer and provided it to Da Costa who is then accused of releasing it to others charged in the murder plot.
From there, officers discovered Barnhardt allegedly provided Da Costa with other confidential information that helped facilitate seven shootings in York Region, according to Hogan.
Barnhardt was also allegedly involved in an operation orchestrated by Da Costa where he, Sgt. Robert Black, Sgt. Saurabjit Bedi and Sgt. Carl Grillette are accused of supporting illegal cannabis dispensaries by accepting bribes to protect the dispensaries from investigation, according to Hogan.
Barnhardt was denied bail last month and is next scheduled to appear in court on March 19.
Const. Elias Mouawad is the fifth officer with an alleged connection to Da Costa. He’s accused of providing confidential information to Da Costa and another man charged in support of illicit activity.
Mouawad, Black, Bedi, Grillette and two other Toronto police officers charged in this investigation were all released on promises to appear after their arrests last month. They are next scheduled to return to court in May, but will likely have their lawyers appear on their behalf.
Two additional Toronto cops are suspended in connection with Project South, but have not been charged, according to a spokesperson from the service. Three Peel police officers are also suspended in connection to the corruption probe.
Da Costa was initially arrested and granted bail on three drug trafficking and exporting charges in late January. He’s since been charged with failing to comply with that release order by leaving his surety’s residence on Feb. 3.
Da Costa will remain in custody until he obtains a GPS ankle monitor. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 26, alongside many of the others charged in Project South.
