The Department of National Defence has reported that two members of the Canadian Armed Forces were taken into custody by Toronto police on allegations involving organized crime, abduction, and theft of firearms.
Identified as Talarambage Fernando and James Moreau, both affiliated with the 7 Toronto Regiment, the individuals have been relieved of their duties and restricted from military facilities and bases following their apprehension on August 11.
Toronto police disclosed on Tuesday that Fernando, aged 22, and Moreau, aged 29, faced a total of 49 charges on the day of their arrest. According to police spokesperson Nadine Ramadan, the duo was accused of various offenses including kidnapping for ransom, forcible confinement, possession of a firearm in a vehicle without authorization, use of a firearm during a serious offense, and property interference.
In addition, Fernando was separately charged with multiple counts of firearms-related violations such as unauthorized possession of a prohibited device, possession of unlawfully obtained property, and careless ammunition storage. The investigation is ongoing, and further details will be shared by the police in due course.
Both suspects hold the title of bombardier and are currently active members of the armed forces pending the outcome of an administrative assessment. Fernando joined as a reservist in January 2020 without deployment history, while Moreau enlisted as a reservist in March 2018 and was deployed in 2020 for Operation Laser amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Christian Leuprecht, a professor at the Royal Military College and Queens University, reserve members do not carry the same status as regular force members or officers. He emphasized the importance of ensuring all military personnel receive adequate supervision and adhere to national laws and regulations, highlighting the significance of upholding public expectations regarding uniformed members. Leuprecht acknowledged the challenges of rapidly expanding the organization while striving to meet recruitment targets, noting that incidents like these are exceptions rather than the norm.
