NEWS RELEASE
GUELPH POLICE SERVICE
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In July of 2020, members of the Drug Unit entered into a drug trafficking investigation involving a group of individuals trafficking drugs. Surveillance was conducted over multiple days and observations were made that were consistent with drug trafficking. On July 30, 2020, a search warrant was sought and granted for a residence on Liverpool Street, Guelph. Three people were arrested and charged with various drugs, weapons offences and other criminal code offences.
A 30-year-old Guelph male was charged with:
• 4(1) CDSA possession of a controlled substance – crystal meth
• 354(1)(a) possession of stolen property
• 91(2) possession of a prohibited weapon - pepper spray
• 117.01 (1) possess weapon contrary to order x2 (pepper spray and crossbow)
A 22-year-old Guelph female was charged with:
• 4(1) CDSA possession of a controlled substance – crystal meth
• 354(1)(a) possession of stolen property
• 91(2) possession of a prohibited weapon - pepper spray
• 145(5)(a) breach of judicial release order
• 117.01(1) possess weapon contrary to order x2 (pepper spray and crossbow)
• 733.1(1) breach probation x3
A search of their residence revealed:
• 12 Edged weapons including swords, knives, hatchets, and daggers
• one compound crossbow with a scope
• two functioning digital scales
• 0.34 grams crystal methamphetamine
• $665
• a stolen cheque
A 34-year-old Mississauga male was charged with:
• 5(2) CDSA possession for purpose of trafficking x3 fentanyl, cocaine and oxycodone
• 354(1)(a) possession of property obtained by crime (cash)
A search of his vehicle revealed:
• 682.37g of cocaine in a pressed brick. The street value of this cocaine if sold by the gram is $68,200. If it was sold by the ounce, the street value would be approximately $39,000
• 48.59g of white fentanyl, 17.37g of brown fentanyl, 22.7g purple fentanyl. The total weight of the fentanyl seized is 88.66g. The street value of this fentanyl is $19,000 if sold by the gram
• 32 percocet pills containing oxycodone. The value of these pills is $160
• approximately $30,000 in cash
The Guelph accused parties were later released from the Guelph Police Station on a release order. The Mississauga male was held for a bail hearing.
D/Sgt Brad Saint of the Drug Unit said, "Project Python was the result of multiple specialty units within the Guelph Police Service working together to investigate both local and out of town drug traffickers. Over 20 officers from the Drug Unit, Intelligence Unit, HEAT Unit and the Tactics and Rescue Unit worked as a team to bring this project to a successful conclusion. The arrest of the male party from Mississauga represents a significant dent to the drug supply into the City of Guelph. It appears that this male’s sole purpose was to come to Guelph to traffic drugs to our citizens. Both the cocaine and fentanyl seizures are very significant. This is the largest drug seizure of its kind by our officers in 2020. In Guelph we have had over 140 overdoses so far in 2020; 15 of those overdoses have been fatal. The amount of fentanyl seized represents approximately 880 potentially lethal doses. We will continue to work hard to try and stem the flow of drugs into our city.”
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