RCMP Kitchener take down high level fentanyl traffickers and cocaine importers in week long drug sweep

This week members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Kitchener, with assistance from the policing community throughout Southern Ontario, conducted raids in Hamilton, Toronto, Durham, Brantford and Kitchener.

In an undercover operation, the Kitchener RCMP directly infiltrated several high level drug trafficking groups supplying fentanyl and other illicit drugs to markets in the GTA and Southwestern Ontario. The investigation also uncovered members of a cocaine importation ring working out of the Toronto Pearson International Airport (TPIA). The arrests this week signal the successful culmination of that effort.

This investigation, dubbed project OWoodcraft, has seen the Kitchener RCMP charge 11 people with 40 offences including:  trafficking in fentanyl, carfentanil, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine as well as attempting to import cocaine.

The trafficking of fentanyl is a top priority for the law enforcement community in Canada.  Undercover operations during this project saw police purchase approximately 9 kilograms of fentanyl and several kilograms of other illicit drugs over several transactions.  These drugs could have been diluted significantly, meaning a much higher drug volume would have been distributed to the streets.

In all, RCMP seized approximately 10 kg of Fentanyl, 1.3 kg Heroin, 1 kg Methamphetamine and 30 kg of marihuana as well as smaller amounts of Carfentanil and Cocaine. The street value of the seized drugs is estimated to be $10 Million.

Approximately $400,000 in cash was seized as a result of this investigation as well as three vehicles worth approximately $170,000.

The investigation relating to the importation of cocaine resulted in the arrest of two Sunwing Airlines employees working at TPIA. These employees are charged with attempting to import cocaine and trafficking cocaine.  The RCMP wishes to thank Sunwing Airlines for their assistance during this investigation.  Sunwing’s commitment to safety and security was evident and their cooperation was instrumental in bringing this investigation to a successful conclusion.

RCMP “O” Division would also like to thank the following agencies for assisting:  Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Partner agencies in the CFSEU Toronto, Durham Regional Police (DRP), Brantford Police Service, GTAA Greater Toronto Airport Authority and the Public Prosecutions Service of Canada.

Within the RCMP significant support was also received from Serious and Organized Crime Units at Toronto West, London and Hamilton Niagara Detachments and several support services units as well as the RCMP Liaison Officer in Jamaica.

The following subjects were charged with the named offences:

Derrick Isreal Shand (42) of Hamilton,

• 5 Counts – Trafficking in a controlled substance, contrary to the Controlled Drug Substances Act (CDSA) to wit: Heroin (1/2kg, 1/2kg, 305g) Fentanyl (1g) Methamphetamine (1kg)
• Possession of proceeds of crime, contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada (CCC).

Verlon Winston Peters (36) of Etobicoke,

• 3 Counts – Trafficking in a controlled substance, contrary to the CDSA to wit: Fentanyl (1g, 1kg, 1kg)
• Possession of proceeds of crime, contrary to the CCC.

Tim Adam Lodge (39) of Brantford,

• 6 Counts – Trafficking in a controlled substance, contrary to the CDSA to wit: Cocaine (2 oz), Fentanyl (1oz, 7oz, 1kg, 1kg, 1kg, 4kg), Carfentanil (2oz)
• 1 Count Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (Fentanyl 1kg)
• Possession of proceeds of crime, contrary to the CCC.

Brittany Michelle Crozier (22) of Hamilton,

• 4 Counts – Trafficking in a controlled substance, contrary to the CDSA to wit: Fentanyl (9oz, 1kg, 1kg, 4kg)
• Possession of proceeds of crime, contrary to the CCC.

Courtenay Elizabeth Doolittle (22) of Hamilton,

• 1 Count – Trafficking in a controlled substance, contrary to the CDSA to wit: Fentanyl (1kg)
• Possession of proceeds of crime, contrary to the CCC.

Andrej Marek Krawczyk (40) of Kitchener,

• 1 Count – Attempt to Import a controlled substance to wit: Cocaine, contrary to the CDSA,
• 1 count trafficking a controlled substance to wit: Cocaine (1kg), contrary to the CDSA,
• Possession of proceeds of crime, contrary to the CCC.
• Conspiracy to import cocaine contrary to the CCC.

Gianni Ballestrin (46) of Mississauga,

• 1 Count – Attempt to Import a controlled substance to wit: Cocaine, contrary to the CDSA,
• 1 Count trafficking in a controlled substance to wit: Cocaine (1kg), contrary to the CDSA.
• Conspiracy to import cocaine contrary to the CCC.

Clint McInnis (49) of Ajax

• 1 Count – Trafficking in a controlled substance to wit: Heroin (305 g), contrary to the CDSA.

Jameal McInnis (20) of Ajax

• 1 Count – Trafficking in a controlled substance to wit: Heroin (305 g), contrary to the CDSA.
• 1 Count – Dangerous Driving, contrary to the CCC.
• 1Count – Mischief over $5000, contrary to the CCC.

Michael Brutto (29) of Toronto

• 1 Count – Possession of Proceeds of Crime, contrary to the CCC.
• 1 Count – Distribution of Cannabis, contrary to the Cannabis Act

Jehan Carvalho (33) of Toronto

• 1 Count – Possession of Proceeds of Crime, contrary to the CCC.
• 1 Count – Distribution of Cannabis, contrary to the Cannabis Act

“Those who traffic in illicit drugs destroy lives and impact the safety and security of our communities. The RCMP and our many partners will continue to work together closely to eradicate those dangers.” said C/Supt. Michael LeSage, Criminal Operations Officer for the O Division RCMP. “Project OWoodcraft demonstrates how the efforts of law enforcement agencies, other government departments, and private sector partnerships at a local, national and international level, can work effectively to combat crime.”

Law enforcement agencies work diligently to make our communities a safer place to live, however your assistance in remaining vigilant and informing us of any suspicious activities will help us be even more successful.  If you have any information about the trafficking of fentanyl or carfentanil, or wish to report other criminality, you can contact your local police, the Ontario RCMP at 1-800-387-0020, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), at any time.

SOURCE Royal Canadian Mounted Police