More than $100,000 worth of illicit drugs have been taken off the streets in Chatham as part of a province-wide drug trafficking investigation.
Beginning in September, the Chatham-Kent Police Service worked alongside the Collingwood Ontario Provincial Police to identify a suspect who was allegedly receiving and distributing controlled substances as part of a broader trafficking network across Ontario.
Officers executed multiple search warrants at locations throughout the province on Sunday, with the Emergency Response Team raiding a home on Evening Drive in Chatham. During a search of the Chatham property, police seized around 960 grams of cocaine, approximately 645 grams of MDMA (Ecstasy), a prohibited conducted energy weapon (Taser), a replica .177 calibre handgun, multiple rounds of ammunition, digital scales, drug packaging materials, and around $23,000 in Canadian currency. The value of the drugs is estimated at around $134,700.
Officers with the CK police Intelligence Unit also arrested a 53-year-old Chatham man and seized his vehicle. The accused is now charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of stolen property over $5,000, two counts of possessing a weapon or ammunition contrary to a prohibition order, and driving while under suspension.
He was held in custody for a bail hearing.