Three London residents are facing more than 60 charges following a major drug trafficking investigation on Walpole Island First Nation.
Officers with the Lambton County Ontario Provincial Police Community Street Crime Unit began the investigation, entitled Project Brake, back in April after receiving information that individuals were trafficking drugs into Walpole Island and the surrounding area.
Four months later, search warrants were executed at two homes in London on July 17, leading to the seizure of 15.3 kilograms of fentanyl, 1.7 kilograms of cocaine, and 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, along with four loaded handguns, five stolen vehicles, $20,000 in Canadian currency, and other evidence associated with drug trafficking. The combined total of all items seized is estimated at more than $1.28 million.
Acting Detective Superintendent Andy Bradford with the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau said the fentanyl seized in the investigation was specifically meant for domestic consumption.
“Based on common street-level quantities, that amount had the potential to generate 150,000 potentially lethal street-level doses. That is enough to impact communities far beyond a single municipality,” he said.
Walpole Island Chief Leela Thomas said it’s frightening to know fentanyl use remains on the rise.
“For a lot of people, that’s their main source of substance use,” she said. “It’s important that we work with the OPP and other police agencies to share intel to stop that from coming into our community… It’s one component of a holistic plan of addressing addiction and wellness in our community.”
Police have arrested a 28-year-old woman, a 28-year-old man, and a 27-year-old man, all from London, in connection with the investigation. The three have been charged with multiple counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of stolen property, and several firearm-related offences.
The two men have been remanded into custody, and the woman was released with a future court date.
While the investigation remains ongoing, Acting Detective Superintendent Bradford said no further charges or arrests are anticipated.
“Fentanyl received in this province; it can be domestically produced in clandestine laboratories, or it’s imported from other countries,” he said. “The origin of the fentanyl, in every investigation we conduct, remains a priority, and that still remains under investigation.”
Anyone with further information that could assist with the investigation is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
