OTTAWA, Ontario - Gang members were heard on wiretaps discussing drug use by Mayor Rob Ford of Toronto and suggesting that he could be blackmailed, according to a police document released by a court Wednesday.
Those allegations and others were contained in previously redacted portions of the 474-page police document, an affidavit that was used to obtain search warrants. Interviews and wiretaps, the Toronto police wrote, suggested that Ford regularly used drugs, possibly including heroin, and that dealers had discussed blackmailing him. Last month, Ford characterized his use of crack cocaine in a now-infamous video as an aberration brought on by “one of my drunken stupors.”
“Rob Ford wants some drugs,” the police said they had overheard one gang member tell another on a wiretap. “The mayor of the city Rob Ford was smoking his rocks today,” another said, apparently referring to crack cocaine.
It appeared from the document that the mayor in March attempted to buy the video of him using crack from the gang for $5,000 plus an automobile. Wiretaps, however, show that they wanted up to $150,000.
Front Section, Pages 6 on 12/05/2013