| Steve Cunha |
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| Steve Cunha, born around 1970, managed a brokerage firm called Tempo Logistics, a company that often moved cargo through the city's airport Cunha was introduced to the Serero Gang, reputedly headed by Daniel “The Arab” Serero, in the spring of 1995 by Salvatore Panetta, according to a La Presse article. The company Cunha worked for would provide a perfect disguise for importing drug shipments. Serero would eventually come to trust Cunha and reportedly even introducing him to contacts in Spain, Holland, and Pakistan. Police soon began monitoring all the faxes coming in and out of Tempo Logistics, CBC’s The National would later report. They soon learned of shipments being planned from Amsterdam through London to Canada. |
MUC Detective Kevin McGarr, who investigated the Serero organization, told the television show that “they (the Serero Gang) were used to paying into the 30, 35 per cent range and Cunha was offering a service for a fraction half of that. So they had thought they had hit the motherlode, finding someone to do good quality work for a very cheap price.” Police acted on April 17, 1996, arresting Lee, Serero, and 22 others, including reputed Montreal Mafia boss Frank Cotroni and his son, Francesco Jr. Police said they seized three of the gang's shipments during the operation and made the arrests when the group was about to take control of 170 kilograms of cocaine. On June 14, 1996, according to one news report, Cunha admitted his crimes and decided to cooperate with authorities. Another reputed member of the gang, Lee Gilbert, also turned informant. Cunha would receive a three year suspended sentence. The prosecutor said that Cunha’s decision to cooperate helped the investigation and strongly influenced Daniel Serero’s decision to plead guilty. |