Police authorities issued an update Tuesday in Toronto on Operation Bolo four years after its launch. They make sure its public reward program works, but they should ask for more Canadians to arrest the 25 suspects in the country and ensure the safety of the communities.
Ten of the 25 suspects are wanted for murder, the rest are for attempted murder, manslaughter, human trafficking and armed robbery.
Half of them are also from the Toronto area and the list also includes two women.
Their photos were displayed on giant billboards for press conference purposes; but, in some municipalities, authorities say their photos will also be posted in public spaces.
The Bolo program was launched in 2018 with a simple goal [d’]use innovation to encourage Canadians to guard Canada’s most wanted suspects, and make our communities saferexplained Maxime Langlois, the project director.
In English, the acronym Bolo means to watchwhich means watch out where to be vigilant.
So far the operation has been found and seven individuals have been arrested. The list is constantly being updated.
By partnering with the Crime Stoppers organization, Project Bolo allows citizens who report to remain anonymous and receive a reward without speaking to a police investigator.
The project is an initiative that takes advantage of social networks and technology to encourage citizens to watch and notify authorities if they see suspects.
The conference focused specifically on suspect number one: Abilaziz Mohamed. He is wanted for the murder of Craig MacDonald, committed in October 2021 in Toronto.
The urgency of his capture is so Operation Bolo is offering a $ 250,000 reward to anyone with information on his whereabouts.
Authorities consider Abilaziz Mohamed armed and dangerous. The individual was hiding somewhere in the Toronto area, according to police.
The Bolo program provides an opportunity for citizens to assist the police in their pursuit of suspects wanted for violent crime.said Toronto Police Service Director James Ramer.
Difficult test for families
Conference organizers also read a letter to the press from Drema MacDonald, Craig’s brother, to raise public awareness of the suffering experienced by the victims ’families.
Please take a good look at this man’s face. Remember. Keep this in mind. Report ithe wrote in a statement.
Putting him behind bars will not end our nightmare. No one can get my brother back. But it will allow us to move on and hopefully prevent another family from having this nightmare.he continued.
Several other rewards of up to $ 50,000 and $ 100,000 were also offered for the arrest of the other 24 suspects on the list.
Rewards, however, have an expiration date, but they can be renewed. Never mind, the total reward reached nearly a million dollars, according to Mr. Langlois.
Anyone with information about any crime should feel free to contact Crime Stoppers 100% anonymously, not only to provide a suspect’s report, but also to collect a substantial reward.he explains.
A dozen police forces are engaged in Operation Bolo, such as RCMPang POP and the SQbut also municipal bodies such as in Toronto, Longueuil and Calgary.
Source: Radio-Canada
