Toronto police have arrested seven people, among them three members of the Canadian Armed Forces, in an investigation into a July kidnapping tied to an attempt to seize cryptocurrency. Investigators allege the victim was abducted, assaulted and forced to provide access to digital assets and to security systems connected to his business.

Police said the case has produced 82 criminal charges in total. Searches linked to the investigation recovered firearms, GPS tracking devices, illegal drugs and roughly 2,500 rounds of ammunition that the military later confirmed had been stolen from its inventory.

Abduction and early arrests

According to police, the incident began near Finch and Bayview avenues in Toronto, where the victim was kidnapped and then assaulted. Investigators say the attackers tried to force him to hand over access to his cryptocurrency holdings as well as business security systems. He was later released after being warned not to contact authorities.

Police have not said how much cryptocurrency was involved and did not confirm whether any assets were actually transferred. Investigators identified a vehicle used in the alleged kidnapping within 24 hours, which led to the arrest of two suspects. From there, police said, evidence pointed to additional suspects and to separate firearms and drug-related offenses.

Who was charged

The three military members identified by police are Talarambage Fernando, James Moreau and Jack Miley. Investigators are still examining how they were connected to the other four accused. Police said they have not established ties between the group and an organized criminal gang.

Across the seven accused, authorities laid 82 charges, including kidnapping for ransom, forcible confinement, unauthorized possession of firearms and drug trafficking. Police presented the case as an example of a targeted violent crime in which access to digital assets was allegedly the motive.

Weapons, drugs and stolen military ammunition

Search warrants executed during the investigation led to the seizure of a shotgun, firearms with 3D-printed receivers, GPS trackers, a crossbow and arrows, Canadian currency, and what police described as substantial quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine.

Investigators also recovered about 2,500 rounds of ammunition that were determined to have come from Canadian Armed Forces stock. The military confirmed that the recovered rounds belonged to its inventory, adding a separate national-security dimension to what began as a local kidnapping case.

Military response and wider concerns

Fernando, 22, and Moreau, 29, were identified as bombardiers with the 7th Toronto Regiment, a reserve artillery unit. The Department of National Defence said both were removed from military duties after their arrests. Details about Miley's assignment were not provided in the source report.

At a news conference, police said the investigation reflected the increasingly sophisticated and targeted nature of crimes involving cryptocurrency. They also noted the added risks created when people with military training are allegedly involved, both for victims and for officers responding to violent incidents. Authorities are still reviewing seized phones and computers, and police said encrypted communications can make that work more difficult.

Separate ammunition probe now underway

The Department of National Defence said military police have opened their own investigation into how the ammunition left armed forces control and are cooperating with Toronto police. The department also said it is tightening ammunition inventory procedures through added verification and stock counts.

A broader modernization of ammunition management is planned for the fall, with the stated aim of improving accuracy, traceability and accountability. On the criminal side, the Toronto investigation remains active as police continue examining electronic evidence and the relationships among the accused.

Source: crypto.news