Dubbed Project Moffatt, 23 people including three Barrie residents are facing 387 charges following an OPP-led investigation that resulted in the seizure of guns, a variety of drugs including fentanyl, cocaine, crystal meth and meth tablets, 10 vehicles, and Canadian and American currency.
Police say the investigation began in April when authorities learned of three distinct crime groups that were trafficking drugs and illegal firearms in the Greater Toronto Area as well as in Central and Northeastern Ontario.
"On July 18 and 19, 2023, the OPP executed 14 search warrants at locations in Toronto, Vaughan, Barrie, Brampton, Mississauga, Oakville, North Bay, Engelhart and Pickering. In addition, search warrants were executed at both the Maplehurst Correctional Complex and the Collins Bay Federal Institution. Of the 23 accused, one individual was a Federal Parolee who was violating the conditions of his parole," police said in a news release on Wednesday.
At a news conference at York Regional Police Headquarters on Wednesday, Barrie Deputy Police Chief Wyllie Allan praised the effort and commitment to make communities safer.
"We are grateful for the partnership, support and resources that have come together under this JFO (joint forces operation), showcasing a collaborative effort to take a large amount of illicit drugs and guns off of our streets, while taking into custody many dangerous individuals who would seek to profit from those who struggle with their addiction."
He noted that Barrie, like other communities across Canada, is seeing the profound impact fentanyl is having on the city.
"In fact, Barrie had the third-highest rate of opioid-related deaths among Ontario's largest cities, in which more than half of the deaths were young adults between the ages of 20 and 44 years."
The suspects from Barrie are two women and a man, all in their 20s.
Seized items include but are not limited to:
· 29 firearms, mainly handguns;
· 12 kilograms of fentanyl;
· 25.25 kilograms of cocaine;
· five kilograms of crystal methamphetamine;
· over 260,000 methamphetamine tablets;
· $289,297 in Canadian currency;
· $1,562 in US currency; and
· 10 vehicles.
Additional offence-related property seized amounts to $790,000.
Banner images provided - Ontario Provincial Police
