KAWARTHA LAKES-23 people are facing 387 charges following an investigation led by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau Northeast Unit, the OPP-led Provincial Joint Forces Guns and Gangs Enforcement Team and the OPP-led Provincial Weapons Enforcement Team.
Project MOFFATT began in April 2023, when investigators say they learned of three distinct crime groups that were trafficking illicit drugs and illegal firearms in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) as well as in Central and Northeastern Ontario.
“Illicit drugs and illegal firearms traffickers jeopardize the safety of our communities. The accused charged as a result of Project MOFFATT directly profited from violence and human suffering and show a complete lack of regard for the laws put in place to protect all of us. I am proud of the investigative team for a seizure of this magnitude. We will continue to actively pursue these criminals and incapacitate their networks.” said OPP Deputy Commissioner Marty Kearns.
On July 18 and 19, 2023, the OPP executed 14 search warrants at locations in Toronto, Vaughan, Barrie, Brampton, Mississauga, Oakville, North Bay, Engelhart and Pickering. In addition, search warrants were executed at both the Maplehurst Correctional Complex and the Collins Bay Federal Institution. Of the 23 accused, one individual was a Federal Parolee who was violating the conditions of his parole.
Seized items include but are not limited to:
· 29 firearms, mainly handguns;
· 12 kilograms of fentanyl;
· 25.25 kilograms of cocaine;
· five kilograms of crystal methamphetamine;
· over 260,000 methamphetamine tablets;
· $289,297 in Canadian currency;
· $1,562 in US currency; and
· 10 vehicles.
The total street value of the drugs and firearms seized is over $8 million. Additional offence related property seized amounts to $790,000.
A number of partners supported this investigation, including the York Regional Police, the Peel Regional Police, the Barrie Police Service and the Ottawa Police Service.
The Project MOFFATT investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information about the trafficking of illicit drugs is urged to call OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
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