An alleged drug trafficker accused of obtaining confidential information from a Toronto police officer, which investigators say was used in an unsuccessful conspiracy to kill a senior corrections officer, was back in custody Tuesday morning after his bail was revoked.
The Crown asked for a Superior Court review of the decision to release Brian Da Costa on a $1.5 million bail in early March. Justice Rita Maxwell ordered his detention and vacated the lower court’s decision, which saw Da Costa released under house arrest supervised by three sureties.
The judge’s reasons for her decision and details from the bail review hearing are protected under a routine publication ban aimed at ensuring Da Costa’s right to a fair trial.
Da Costa, 43, is facing 16 charges, including bribing a peace officer, trafficking drugs and police uniforms, and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
The conditions of his earlier release had included surrendering his passport, using a GPS ankle monitor, not possessing any weapons, and not having access to a cellphone.
York police Deputy Chief Ryan Hogan described Da Costa as a key figure in a GTA-based criminal network allegedly running a sophisticated drug trafficking operation with international ties, as he provided details on a months-long corruption probe dubbed Project South earlier this year.
Seven current Toronto police officers and one retired constable have been charged alongside 20 civilians in the wide-ranging corruption and organized crime investigation. None of the charges against them have been tested in court.
Five of the officers charged have alleged ties to Da Costa, according to Hogan. The most significant of those is Const. Timothy Barnhardt, Da Costa’s co-accused.
The 12 Division officer was described as the “genesis” of Project South, which began last June after York police officers uncovered an alleged conspiracy to kill a senior corrections officer at Toronto South Detention Centre.
York investigators allege that Barnhardt, 56, accessed private information about the senior corrections officer and provided it to Da Costa, who is accused of releasing it to others charged in the murder plot.
From there, officers discovered Barnhardt allegedly provided Da Costa with other confidential information that helped facilitate seven shootings in York Region, according to Hogan.
Barnhardt was denied bail again last week after a bail review hearing in Superior Court.
Da Costa’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 26, alongside many of the others charged in Project South.
