Oxford OPP took a large quantity of drugs off the street following a traffic stop last week. (OPP Photo)
Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A total of four recent drug busts have made Woodstock, Oxford County and other southern Ontario streets a bit safer. Arrests were made after a joint investigation with several police forces along with separate investigations by the Oxford OPP and Woodstock City Police.
Joint police investigation leads to seizure of cocaine and methamphetamine worth nearly $300,000
Seven people are facing 18 Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act charges after police executed search warrants in southwestern Ontario.
The investigation was dubbed ‘Project Napoli’ and included uniformed officers from nine police forces along with six specialized teams from the OPP including organized crime, bike enforcement and the emergency response team.
The Ontario Provincial Police Community Street Crime Units in the West Region, in partnership with the Woodstock Police Service Criminal Intelligence and Drug Unit, began what was dubbed ‘Project NAPOLI’ in August of last year.
On Nov. 21 a total of 10 search warrants were executed in Kitchener, Woodstock and Oxford County by members of Community Street Crime Forces from eight southern Ontario OPP detachments.
A 44-year-old male and a 52-year-old female, both from Woodstock, face charges of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. They have been released and have a court appearance scheduled for January. A 56-year-old male from Norwich Township was charged with breaching conditions and was released but is scheduled to appear in court in January.
The majority of the charges were laid against those from Kitchener and London.
As a result of the search warrants, police seized 1.6 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, 1.3 kilograms of suspected cocaine, 2,500 alprazolam tablets, $20,000 in Canadian currency, five cell phones and two digital scales. The drugs seized have an estimated street value of $281,000.
“This is a very positive outcome relating to the safety and security of our local communities,” said Oxford OPP media relations constable Randi Crawford.
“We are very proud of the results of this investigation and the excellent teamwork that was required to make this happen. Oxford OPP is honoured to collaborate with our neighbouring municipal police services and the specialty units within our organization to jointly protect the communities we serve.”
Woodstock Police Inspector Jamie Taylor commented on this bust and the ones his force was involved in later in the story.
“These three recent drug investigations represent a major success, highlighting the strength of the partnerships we have established with our neighboring police services. The commitment and hard work of all our members including frontline officers, drug enforcement officers, and criminal investigators, we have made a significant impact on enhancing the safety of our community.”
He added he is incredibly proud of the achievements of his members and happy to report the operations were successful.”
Crawford added police will continue to actively investigate drug-related crimes and asks that anyone having information that can help keep the community safe contact police or Oxford Crime Stoppers.
Woodstock man arrested at city motel
A 43-year-old man has been arrested and charged following an investigation at a motel in the east end of Woodstock.
On Monday, Dec. 2 police executed a search warrant and recovered fentanyl with an estimated street value of $10,500. The accused male was arrested at the scene and taken into custody, where he was photographed and fingerprinted.
Police say during processing, the accused became violent and destroyed police property. He has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and a mischief charge was also tacked on. The accused remains in custody pending a bail hearing.
Woodstock and Stratford police team up for bust in the Festival City
The two forces combined efforts to arrest two men in connection with fentanyl trafficking in Stratford. On the afternoon of Nov. 28, police concluded an undercover investigation by arresting two males, one from Stoney Creek and one from Hamilton.
One suspect was charged with one count of trafficking a Schedule I substance and was released. The other faces three counts of trafficking a Schedule I substance, possession for the purpose of trafficking and resisting arrest. He is being held in custody.
Police say they confiscated 189 grams of fentanyl with a street value of $35,000.
Ingersoll traffic stop results in multiple drug charges (picture attached)
Oxford Provincial Police said it was a traffic stop, but a large amount of firepower was involved in the bust.
On Nov. 27 around 7 p.m., police stopped a vehicle on Culloden Road. With the assistance of Oxford, Brant, Middlesex and Elgin Community Street Crime Units along with the West Region Emergency Response Team, police arrested and charged a 66-year-old resident of South-West Oxford with six offences.
Those include possession of a Schedule III substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of over 30 grams of dried cannabis in a public place, possession of illicit cannabis and possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling. He also faces one charge of possession of a Schedule I substance and possession for the purpose of distributing.
Police say the combined estimated street value of the seized controlled substances is approximately $51,000.
The accused was remanded into custody and will appear in a Woodstock courtroom at a later date.
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