INVESTIGATION QUASHES HUGE DRUG AND GUN DISTRIBUTION RINGS
18 People Charged; Fentanyl and Weapons Seized
(VAUGHAN, ON) – Several Ontario and Quebec residents face numerous charges following a multi-jurisdiction investigation into illegal firearms and the trafficking of illegal drugs in Ontario, Québec and the United States.
Project SILKSTONE began as a high-level Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) investigation targeting multiple criminal groups involved in trafficking illegal drugs and guns along the Highway 401 corridor between the Greater Toronto Area, through the Belleville/Bay of Quinte Region and Montréal, Québec. The investigation also revealed drug trafficking activities to and from the United States.
At a news conference today, OPP Deputy Commissioner Rick BARNUM and representatives from the project’s partner agencies unveiled details of the investigation and samples of the evidence seized during the 18-month probe. Project SILKSTONE was conducted by OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) in partnership with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Sûreté du Québec, Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The investigation was also supported by The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). Members of the OPP Emergency Response Team, OPP OCEB, Peel Regional Police Tactical and Rescue Unit, and the Toronto Police Service Emergency Task Force (ETF) assisted with executing the search warrants. Several search warrants were executed earlier this week at locations across southeastern Ontario, the Greater Toronto Area and Montréal, Québec.
During the course of the investigation, the project team combined to seize 11,500 pills containing fentanyl, eight (8) kilograms of cocaine, 7.5 kilograms of MDMA (ecstasy), 260 grams of methamphetamine, 7,200 marihuana plants from an indoor grow operation, 180 pounds of processed marihuana bud, cases of vapes containing THC – known as ‘JuJu Joints’, drug paraphernalia and equipment. Project SILKSTONE investigators seized 23 firearms including three (3) pistols and 20 long guns, $69,000.00 in Canadian currency and $500.00 in U-S currency, $50,000.00 worth of casino chips, equipment and supplies from an illegal identity card-making operation, Radio Frequency (RF) detecting devices, and ‘colours’ from an outlaw motorcycle gang. In addition, four (4) vehicles, an enclosed trailer and a snowmobile were seized as offence-related property.
OPP have charged 18 people with 81 offences including charges relating to the Controlled Drug and Substances Act (CDSA) and the Criminal Code of Canada. (See PROJECT SILKSTONE — ADDENDUM OF CHARGED PERSONS on the Media Resources Page)
Jason BRYAN 40 Toronto, Ontario • Make Forged Document – 4 counts • Conspiracy to Make Forged Document • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000 Belleville / IN CUSTODY DATE: To Be Determined By Court
Yu Ying CHEN 48 Mississauga, Ontario • Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – Cocaine • Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – MDMA – 3 counts • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 – 4 counts Belleville / IN CUSTODY DATE: To Be Determined By Court
Oscar DOBSON 38 Montréal, Québec • Conspiracy to Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – Fentanyl – 3 counts Belleville / IN CUSTODY DATE: To Be Determined By Court
Justin FREEMAN 32 Tyendinaga, Ontario • Trafficking Firearms – 6 counts • Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – Cocaine – 2 counts • Traffic in Schedule I Substance – Fentanyl • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 – 3 counts Belleville / IN CUSTODY DATE: To Be Determined By Court
Travis HESKETH 35 Tyendinaga, Ontario • Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – Cocaine – 2 counts • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 Belleville
Jesse HILL 33 Tyendinaga, Ontario • Traffic Firearms Belleville/ IN CUSTODY DATE: To Be Determined By Court
Khai HOANG 59 Mississauga, Ontario • Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – Cocaine – 3 counts • Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – Oxycodone • Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – MDMA – 5 counts • Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – Heroin • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 – 5 counts • Laundering Proceeds of Crime Belleville/ IN CUSTODY DATE: To Be Determined By Court
Iwona KIRPSZA 47 Toronto, Ontario • Make Forged Document • Conspiracy to Make Forged Document Belleville/ IN CUSTODY DATE: To Be Determined By Court ADDENDUM OF CHARGED PERSONS – PROJECT SILKSTONE 23 February 2017 3 NAME AGE RESIDENCE CHARGE COURT STATUS and DATE
Wong LAW 51 Toronto, Ontario • Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – MDMA – 2 counts • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 – 2 counts Belleville/ IN CUSTODY DATE: To Be Determined By Court
Yvan LECLAIR 48 Shannonville, Ontario • Possession of Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order • Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – Cocaine • Trafficking in Firearms, Weapon, Device or Ammunition – 2 counts Belleville/ IN CUSTODY DATE: To Be Determined By Court
Lai LIN 43 Markham, Ontario • Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – MDMA Belleville/ IN CUSTODY DATE: To Be Determined By Court Patrick OLIVER 38 Ajax, Ontario • Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – Cocaine – 3 counts • Conspiracy to Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – Fentanyl – 3 counts • Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – Fentanyl – 2 counts • Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – MDMA – 3 counts • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 Belleville/ IN CUSTODY DATE: To Be Determined By Court A
Heeralall RAMDEO 34 Toronto, Ontario • Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – Cocaine – 3 counts • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 – 2 counts Belleville/ IN CUSTODY DATE: To Be Determined By Court
Derek SHOREY 33 Belleville, Ontario • Traffic in a Schedule I Substance – Cocaine Belleville/ IN CUSTODY DATE: To Be Determined By Court
Amanda HEWITT 28 Quinte West, Ontario • Trafficking Firearms Belleville/ IN CUSTODY DATE: To Be Determined By Court
Warren ROBERTS 53 Toronto, Ontario • Trafficking in Firearms, Weapon, Device or Ammunition – 2 counts Belleville/ IN CUSTODY DATE: To Be Determined By Court Daniel ROBERTS 25 Toronto, Ontario • Trafficking in Firearms, Weapon, Device or Ammunition – 2 counts Belleville/ IN CUSTODY DATE: To Be Determined By Court
Stratis KORINIS 34 Toronto, Ontario • Conspiracy to Import a Schedule I Substance – Fentanyl • Conspiracy to Import a Schedule I Substance – Heroin Belleville/ IN CUSTODY DATE: To Be Determined By Court
The accused persons were held in custody upon arrest and are expected to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Belleville at various times and dates. The investigation continues.
To find out more about the dangers of fentanyl and short term antidotes, we encourage everyone to visit www.facethefentanyl.ca , part of an awareness campaign supported by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP).
“By dismantling a criminal operation of this magnitude, we’ve literally prevented more than 11-thousand ‘doses of death’ of fentanyl and illegal guns from killing people in our communities. Project SILKSTONE again demonstrates how effective law enforcement is at working together to target criminality. Police leaders continue to send a very clear message to criminals that – regardless of jurisdiction – police will continue to identify and aggressively pursue those individuals who threaten public safety.”
Deputy Commissioner Rick BARNUM, Provincial Commander OPP Investigations and Organized Crime
Please support independent media & click the donate button below today.