13.7 C
Kawartha Lakes
Monday, February 10, 2025
No menu items!
HomeNews25 People Arrested As Police Dismantle "Large-Scale Drug Trafficking Network" That Included...

25 People Arrested As Police Dismantle “Large-Scale Drug Trafficking Network” That Included Kawartha Lakes

KAWARTHA LAKES-York Regional Police Organized Crime and Intelligence Services – Major Projects Unit have made 25 arrests and dismantled a large-scale drug trafficking network that extended across Ontario including into Kawartha Lakes.

Police say in June 2021, officers began an investigation into a drug trafficking network. The individuals initially investigated resided and trafficked controlled substances within York Region but as the investigation progressed, it was discovered that this group was also responsible for trafficking controlled substances throughout the Greater Toronto Area and into other areas of Ontario, including Durham Region, London and the Kawartha Lakes area.

As this investigation grew in scope, a team of investigators from York Regional Police, the Durham Regional Police Service, the London Police Service, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Toronto Police Service established a joint-forces operation, dubbed Project Entrust which investigated for more than a year.

Between June 2021 and June 2022, an investigative probe and 19 search warrants resulted in 25 people charged with 113 criminal offences.

Officers say they seized approximately $1.7 million worth of illegal drugs including: 7.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2.7 kilograms of cocaine, 18 grams of crack cocaine, 534 grams of fentanyl, 115 oxycodone pills, 89 hydromorphone pills, 48 Percocets and 27 Vyvanese pills. Investigators also seized $23,000 in firearms, ammo and magazines and $136,000 in Canadian currency. Two stolen vehicles were recovered and one vehicle was seized as proceeds of crime according to police.

Two residents of Kawartha Lakes are facing charges.

40-year-old Amanda Hodgson of City of Kawartha Lakes is charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking. 35-year-old John Johnston of City of Kawartha Lakes is also charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking.

 

Courtesy York Regional Police
Courtesy York Regional Police

 

Courtesy York Regional Police

 

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Major Projects Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6970, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips, leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.

 

Don't forget to sign up for our morning newsletter.

Catch up on all the local news while enjoying your coffee.

Pamela Vanmeer
Pamela Vanmeerhttps://www.kawartha411.ca/
Pamela VanMeer is a two time winner of the prestigious Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Award. Her investigative reports on abuse in Long Term Care Homes garnered international attention for the issue and won the Ron Laidlaw Award. She is a former reporter and anchor at CHEX News, now Global Peterborough and helped launch the New CHEX Daily, a daily half hour talk show. While at CHCH News in Hamilton she covered some of the biggest news stories of the day.

Most Popular

Kawartha 411