Caution key in releasing raid warrants with possible ties to Rob Ford controversy

A quest to get to the heart of a massive Toronto drug investigation, with hinted ties to Mayor Rob Ford's own simmering controversy, will proceed in slow motion after a judge granted access to files by the end of August.

The files pertain to what led investigators to execute search warrants and arrest 44 people in a massive mid-June raid dubbed Project Traveller. They will be heavily redacted when the Crown releases them, no later than August 27.

A lawyer representing several news organizations, including the Globe and Mail, and a separate lawyer representing the Toronto Star have argued the impetus of the raid is a matter of public interest. Search warrants were issued for an apartment complex and an Etobicoke home which have been tied to drug allegations leveled against the mayor.

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Reporters from Gawker and the Star claim they were shown a video of Ford smoking from what appears to be a crack pipe. Ford denies the existence of the video, but the fallout led to a shakeup in the Mayor's Office and leaked allegations of apparent connections to drug dealers and a reputed drug den.

“Given that he’s the mayor of the largest city in Canada and this controversy’s been going on for some time, surely the public’s got a right to know what’s in those affidavits insofar as it doesn’t injure the rights of other parties,” lawyer Peter Jacobsen said, according to the Globe and Mail.

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Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair previously declined to discuss investigation methods, or whether there was a connection to the alleged Ford video, saying that evidence would be presented in court.

According to the Globe, the redacted documents will be used to argue what portions of the massive collection should be further released to the public.

They wanted the documents by July 11, when many suspects are to appear in court. The Crown wanted to keep the documents sealed for as long as six months.

While the process will go slower than the claimants will like, it is important to remember that these documents are at the centre of a massive raid that hit the heart of a cross-border drug pipeline. Keeping safe the identities of undercover officers, sources and the means with which investigators managed to infiltrate the organization should be of the utmost importance.

If it takes extra time to ensure those details are not accidentally compromised, then that is time well spent.