Ontario Provincial Police seize drugs, firearms worth $8 million
Project Moffatt began in April and led to search warrants being executed at 14 locations across Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area
Ontario Provincial Police on Wednesday said that $8 million worth of illegal drugs and firearms were seized during a four-month investigation, that has resulted in the arrests of 23 people who are facing a total of 387 charges.
Project Moffatt, a collaboration between the OPP and the York, Peel, Barrie and Ottawa police began in April led to search warrants being executed at 14 locations across Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
In a press conference, OPP Det. Inspector Lee Fulford said the investigation revealed three criminal networks working together in the sale of illicit drugs and guns in northern and central Ontario as well as GTA.
The OPP said that the police seized 12 kilograms of fentanyl, 25 kilograms of cocaine, five kilograms of crystal meth, and 260,000 methamphetamine tablets.
Det. Inspector Fulford said that the criminal web that was revealed in the Greater Toronto Area also had ties to street gangs, planning to smuggle arms from the United States to Canada in addition to drug sales.
A total of 14 search warrants were conducted on July 18 and 19, including two correctional facilities.
Fulford said police searched Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton and Collins Bay Institution in Kingston in connection to three suspects who were allegedly involved in the organanizing the crimes while residing in the facilities. One of the 23 accused was a federal parolee.
Rahat Sandhu