OTTAWA – Police in Ottawa have arrested ten people after a lengthy investigation that started in September 2016. Ottawa Police Service (OPS) Drug Unit began investigating a group of people believed to be in control of a distribution network for counterfeit pills containing Fentanyl.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) provided assistance during the investigation, as this product was also being dispersed to rural areas of eastern Ontario.
This morning, OPS and OPP executed a total of six warrants in Ottawa including a single family residence, two town homes, two apartments and a storage locker.
A total of 10 people (6 males, 4 females) were arrested at scene and two people were arrested this afternoon in Ottawa (1 male, 1 female). They are expected to be charged later this afternoon and will appear in court tomorrow in Ottawa. As such, Ottawa Police will not identify suspects at his time.
Items seized include (see pictures):
- 2 assault rifles;
- 2 rifles;
- 1 shotgun;
- 3 handguns;
- 3 sets of brass knuckles;
- 2 stun guns disguised as a cell phone;
- Ammunition;
- Canadian currency over $130,000.
Drugs seized include:
- Counterfeit pills containing Fentanyl (pending analysis from Health Canada)
- Fentanyl powder
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamine
Charges that will be laid include:
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking;
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime; and
- weapons charges.
More information will be released tomorrow about the identity of suspects and charges laid.
For more information about concerns with counterfeit pills, please read the February 13th joint alert by Ottawa Police and Ottawa Public Health ALERT: Potential Risk of Overdose from Counterfeit Prescription Pills.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call Ottawa Police’s Drug Unit 613-236-1222, ext. 5080. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS
