Hamilton Police Service, in partnership with Peel Regional Police, Waterloo Regional Police, York Regional Police, and the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario, is announcing the results of Project Sommes.

Launched in August 2025, Project Sommes was initiated in response to a growing trend of organized retail thefts occurring across the province and nationwide.

In August 2025, investigators from the Hamilton Police Intelligence Unit identified persons of interest connected to a series of extensive organized retail thefts targeting multiple Shoppers Drug Mart locations across Hamilton.

Further investigation and background analysis revealed that these individuals were part of a criminal organization responsible for large-scale retail thefts and the trafficking of stolen property throughout Ontario, Quebec and British Colombia dating back to February 2024.

Investigators confirmed that the stolen property was being trafficked by the criminal organization to a male from Mississauga, who then distributed the goods to AG Liquidation - a large-scale commercial liquidation warehouse in Brampton, as well as other wholesalers.

Hamilton Police Service alleges the organized crime group is responsible for hundreds of thefts across Ontario and continues to investigate additional incidents linked to the group. Police are also working with the Service de Police de la Ville de Montreal (SPVM), as the group is believed to have been active in Montreal and the surrounding area.

On December 16, 2025, Hamilton Police, with the assistance of Peel Regional Police Service, York Regional Police Service, Waterloo Regional Police Service, executed 16 search warrants on three commercial properties, six residences and seven vehicles as part of the project.

In addition, Hamilton Police received information that two of the suspects had flown to Vancouver over the weekend and are alleged to have engaged in a crime spree targeting Shopper’s Drug Mart locations in Vancouver and surrounding areas. With the assistance of the Vancouver Police Department, the suspects were arrested and will be transported back to Hamilton.

As a result of Project Sommes, 21 individuals face charges and 175 charges laid. The majority of the suspects were already subject to release orders or had outstanding warrants. During the execution of search warrants, investigators recovered a significant quantity of stolen property, with preliminary estimates valuing the items at more than $1 million, as well as seizing six vehicles.

The successful completion of this investigation was made possible through funding provided by the Ontario Government, Ministry of the Solicitor General in which the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario supported this investigation.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the Hamilton Police Intelligence Unit at 905-546-3810.

To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at http://www.crimestoppershamilton.com.

Quotes

The arrests we are announcing today are the product of persistent teamwork, effective information-sharing, and coordinated efforts across multiple jurisdictions. Organized retail theft is far from a victimless crime. Its impact extends well beyond the businesses targeted—when retailers suffer repeated losses of this magnitude, the entire community feels the effects through higher prices and reduced product availability.

-          Deputy Chief Ryan Diodati, Hamilton Police Service

Organized retail crime affects every corner of our communities, from local businesses to families who bear the cost of these losses. Peel Regional Police officers work tirelessly to disrupt these criminal networks and protect the integrity of our retail sector. Project Sommes is a clear example of how collaboration and intelligence-led policing can deliver results that keep our residents safe.

-          Deputy Chief Chief Marc Andrews, Peel Regional Police Service

We stand with police services in their critical work on Organized Retail Crime to reduce the impact on our communities in this way since the safety issues they create, and the financial losses and costs associated with their criminal activity, affect all of us.

-          Dean Henrico Senior Vice-President of Asset Protection, Loblaw Companies Limited

Quick Facts

• 21 charged individuals
• 175 charges laid
• Hundreds of thefts across British Colombia, Ontario and Quebec
• Over $1,000,000 in product
• Six vehicles seized
• 16 search warrants

Charges

Vijay Aggerwal, 75-years-old, of Brampton

• Counsel to Commit an Indictable Offence x 3
• Possession of Property Obtained By Crime Over $5000
• Proceeds of Crime Over $5000

Stefan Bogdan, 41-years-old, of North York

• Possession of Property Obtained By Crime Over $5000

Andrei Burtea, 22-years-old, of Hamilton/Vaughan

• Theft Over $5,000 x 2
• Theft Under $5,000 x 8
• Fail to Comply with Probation x 7
• Fail to Comply with Undertaking x1
• CC 467.12 - Commission of Offence for Criminal Organization x 10
• Possession of Property Obtained By Crime Over $5000
• Proceeds of Crime Over $5000
• Currently also on charges and release for theft out of Niagara and Durham

Diana Burtea, 19-years-old, of Hamilton/Vaughan

• Theft Over $5,000 x 1
• Theft Under $5,000 x 6
• Fail to Comply with Undertaking X 3
• CC 467.12 Commission of Offence for Criminal Organization x 7
• Possession of Property Obtained By Crime Over $5000
• Proceeds of Crime Over $5000
• Currently also wanted for theft in Windsor, and on charges and release for theft in York Region, London, and OPP Essex County

Voicu Constantin, 48-years-old, of North York

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000

Nicusor Corcoveanu, 28-years-old, of Hamilton/Vaughan

• Theft Over $5,000 x1
• Theft Under $5,000 x 4
• Fail to Comply with Undertaking x 2
• CC 467.12 - Commission of Offence for Criminal Organization x 6
• Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
• Proceeds of Crime Over $5000
• Currently on charges and release for Assault Cause Bodily Harm and Operation while Impaired in Hamilton, wanted for theft in Windsor, and on charges and release for theft in London

Thi Dinh, 39-years-old, of Oakville

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000

Aurelian-Alexandru Dragan, 37-years-old, of North York

• Theft Under $5,000 x1
• Possession of Property Obtained By Crime Over $5000
• Currently also on charges and release for theft in Waterloo Region, London, and Halton Region

Diana-Georgiana Dragan-Mandoiu, 34-years-old, of North York

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000

Marieta Dragomir, 37-years-old

• Theft Under $5,000 x 3
• Fail to Comply with Probation x 2
• CC 467.12 - Commission of Offence for Criminal Organization x 3
• Currently also wanted for theft in Waterloo Region, Halton Region, and Windsor, and on theft charges and release in Quebec, Niagara Region, and OPP Essex County

Florin Dragomir, 46-years-old, of Hamilton/Vaughan

• Theft Under $5,000.00 x 4
• CC467.12 - Commission of Offence for Criminal Organization x 4
• Proceeds of Crime Over $5000

Alexandru Iordache, 33-years-old, of North York

• Theft Under $5,000 x 2
• Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 x1
• CC467.12 - Commission of Offence for Criminal Organization x3
• Possession of Property Obtained By Crime Over $5000
• Currently also on charges and release for theft in York Region

Chiara Strassl, 21-years-old

• Theft Over $5,000 x 2
• CC 467.12 - Commission of Offence for Criminal Organization x 2
• Currently also wanted in Quebec for a Theft Over $5000 incident

Andreea- Alina Toma, 20-years-old, of Hamilton/Vaughan

• Theft Over $5,000 x 3
• Theft Under $5,000 x 4
• Fail to Comply with Probation x 13
• CC 467.12 – Commission of Offence for Criminal Organization x 7
• Possession of Property Obtained By Crime over $5000
• Proceeds of Crime Over $5000
• Currently also on charges and releases for theft out of Niagara and York Regions

Claudia Toma, 19-years-old, of Vaughan

• Theft Under $5,000.00 x 4
• CC 467.12 - Commission of Offence for Criminal Organization x 4
• Possession of Property Obtained By Crime Over $5000
• Proceeds of Crime Over $5000

George Toma, 45-years-old, of Vaughan

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• Proceeds of Crime Over $5000

Raluca-Madalina Veliscu, 31-years-old, of North York

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000

Van Phuc Vu, 29-years-old, of Mississauga

• CC467.12 - Commission of Offence for Criminal Organization x2
• Possession of Property Obtained By Crime Over $5,000 x2
• Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 x1
• Proceeds of Crime Under $5000

Male Youth 1, 15-years-old, of Hamilton/Vaughan

• Theft Under $5,000 x 3
• Fail to Comply with Release Order x 1
• Fail to Comply with Undertaking X3
• CC 467.12 - Commission of Offence for Criminal Organization x 3
• Possession of Property Obtained By Crime Over $5000
• Proceeds of Crime Over $5000
• Currently also wanted for theft in Waterloo Region, and on charges and release for theft in London, Halton Region, and York Region

Male Youth 2, 17-years-old, of Hamilton/Vaughan

• Theft Under $5,000.00 x 2
• CC467.12 - Commission of Offence for Criminal Organization x 2
• Possession of Property Obtained By Crime Over $5000
• Proceeds of Crime Over $5000
• Currently also on charges for theft in Quebec

Female Youth 1, 16-years-old, of Vaughan

• Theft Under $5000 x1
• Possession of Property Obtained By Crime Over $5000
• CC467.12 - Commission of Offence for Criminal Organization
• Proceeds of Crime Over $5000