Toronto police announced charges against seven men on Wednesday in connection with the July abduction of a cryptocurrency exchange owner. Investigators have laid 82 charges, including kidnapping for ransom and numerous firearms offenses. Three of the accused are members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Police allege the victim was targeted on July 25, 2026, near Finch Avenue East and Bayview Avenue as he approached his vehicle. According to investigators, the suspects abducted him at gunpoint, handcuffed him, and assaulted him while attempting to access his cryptocurrency assets and business security systems. The victim was later released after being threatened and warned not to contact police.
Chief Superintendent Joe Matthews told reporters that the victim was targeted specifically because of his access to cryptocurrency assets.
The suspects arrested include Saiefeddine Adem, 22, and Raheem Bishop-Jackson, 24, arrested on July 26. Talarambage Fernando, 22, James Moreau, 29, and Christian Darbandi, 39, were arrested on August 11. Jack Miley, 24, and Suhaib Alekozai, 39, were arrested on September 24.
Fernando, Moreau, and Miley have been confirmed as Canadian Armed Forces members. Fernando and Moreau are reservists with the 7th Toronto Regiment who were removed from military duties after their arrests, according to the Department of National Defence.
Searches of homes and vehicles yielded a shotgun, two 9mm firearms with 3D-printed receivers, two silencers, GPS tracking devices, handcuffs, large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine, and more than 2,700 rounds of ammunition. Investigators determined that approximately 2,500 of those ammunition rounds had been stolen from the Canadian Armed Forces.
Police Chief Myron Demkiw stated that no one is above the law regardless of their profession or military status. Matthews indicated that investigators are still determining how all suspects fit together in the case. Police say there are no outstanding suspects and no further arrests are expected, though the investigation remains ongoing.
