A seven-month investigation involving multiple Guelph Police Service units has resulted in more than 100 criminal charges and taken close to 100,000 doses of fentanyl and four firearms off our streets.
The Guelph Police Drug Unit began an investigation in early 2021 as a result of an opioid overdose death. The project was led by the Guelph Police Service Drug Unit and utilized other units within the service including the Intelligence Unit, Serious Crime Unit, the High Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) and Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU) to bring this investigation to a successful resolution.
Police say the goal was to identify fentanyl supply chains coming into Guelph and disrupt these chains from causing further harm to our community as well as others. Three independent fentanyl supply chains were identified during this project and the parties responsible have been or will be arrested.
Numerous investigative techniques were deployed and more than 15 search warrants and judicial authorizations were issued.
Over the course of seven months, the investigation took officers to multiple municipalities across southwestern Ontario. Members of our drug unit liaised with many other services including Toronto Police Service, York Regional Police Service, Woodstock Police Service and Waterloo Regional Police Service.
Information was gathered leading investigators to believe that fentanyl and other offence-related materials were present at three addresses. Two locations in the Toronto area were searched on Sept. 14 and one location in Guelph was searched on Sept. 15.
Six people have been arrested to this point and charged with more than 110 Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act offences. The charges include multiple firearm and drug trafficking offences.
Five males are still outstanding and arrest warrants are being sought. Four of the suspects – a female and three males – are from Guelph and the rest are from the Toronto area. The suspects range in age from 19 to 60 years.
The investigation led to the seizure of the following items:
- 2.3 kg of fentanyl
- 907 g of crystal methamphetamine
- 288 g cocaine
- 1 loaded sawed off rifle with a high-capacity magazine
- 3 handguns with ammunition and their serial numbers filed off
- $15,000 in Canadian currency
The estimated street value of the drugs seized is approx. $500,000.
This is the largest fentanyl seizure ever by the Guelph Police Service and equates to nearly 100,000 doses taken off the street, each one having the potential to be fatal.
