Walpole Island First Nation has been plunged into the spotlight as a joint-force investigation dubbed Project Monarch continues to looking into illegal gun smuggling from the US into Canada.
Led by York Regional Police, the investigation began in October 2021, looking into an individual whom authorities believed was trafficking controlled substances.
Over the next 10 months, investigators with York Regional Police, OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau and Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit, Peel Regional Police, the London Police Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Canada Border Services Agency identified suspects who are accused of illicitly importing firearms from the United States into Canada, some of which were brought through Walpole Island First Nation.
On July 28th, search warrants were executed at 22 residences, two businesses, and 19 vehicles located in Brampton, Toronto and London. The 10-month investigation resulted in 22 people arrested and more than 400 charges laid. Investigators seized 27 handguns, 17 prohibited magazines, 300+ rounds of ammunition, nine kilograms of cocaine, 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 20,146 Xanax pills, 28 grams of heroin and 41.5 pounds of cannabis. Total street value of the seized drugs is more than $1.3 million.
Investigators also seized $155,242 in Canadian currency and $9,000 in US currency, as well as five vehicles as proceeds of crime.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Guns, Gangs, and Drug Enforcement Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7753, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips, leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.