Two members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) based in Toronto have been removed from military duties after being arrested on charges related to organized crime, kidnapping and the theft of firearms and weapons, the Department of National Defence has confirmed.
The two men, Sachintha Fernando and James Moreau, are bombardiers and reservists with the 7th Toronto Regiment, an Army Reserve artillery unit based at Moss Park Armoury in Toronto. Toronto police arrested both men on August 11, 2026.
Following their arrests, the Department of National Defence said both individuals were removed from their military duties and had their access to CAF equipment, facilities and bases restricted.
However, neither man has been dismissed from the military. Defence officials said they remain members of the Canadian Armed Forces while an administrative review is conducted to determine whether the allegations and circumstances surrounding their arrests could affect their continued service.
Fernando joined the Canadian Army Reserve in January 2020 and has not been deployed on a Canadian Armed Forces operation, according to the Department of National Defence. Moreau enrolled as a reservist in March 2018 and was deployed on Operation LASER in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Department of National Defence has not released detailed information about the allegations or the circumstances surrounding the charges, referring further questions to the Toronto Police Service. The Army said it is supporting the ongoing police investigation.
The arrests have raised questions about military oversight, security screening and the handling of personnel who have access to military facilities and equipment. Defence officials, however, emphasized that the administrative process must provide procedural fairness while the criminal case proceeds.
The allegations remain before the courts, and the accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The case adds to growing attention on organized crime investigations in the Greater Toronto Area and comes as Canadian authorities continue efforts to disrupt criminal networks involved in serious offenses, including kidnapping and weapons-related crimes.
For the Canadian Armed Forces, the incident also underscores the challenge of balancing institutional accountability with due process as authorities determine the appropriate next steps for the two reservists.
Swifteradio.com
