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Five people are facing criminal charges for their alleged involvement in multiple bank robberies across Ontario that netted more than $2 million.

Ontario Provincial Police say four suspects were arrested and one remains at large in an ongoing multi-jurisdictional investigation into bank robberies dubbed Project Opal.

Police say eight bank robberies occurred between Dec. 8, 2022 and March 16 of this year within areas covered by the OPP, as well as Barrie, Belleville, Durham Region, Niagara Region and York Region police forces.

OPP Det. Insp. Brian McDermott says three suspects were arrested during an attempted robbery in Field, Ont., on June 21 after investigators established that a robbery would take place and ensured bank occupants were safe before making the arrests.

He says a fourth suspect was arrested on Sept. 25 in Vaughan, Ont., and a fifth suspect is still wanted.

McDermott says the suspects face a total of 53 charges, including robbery with violence, forcible confinement and several firearm offences.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 29, 2024.

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