Several individuals from Waterloo Region have been arrested as part of a multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking investigation.
Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) partnered with Sault Ste. Marie Police (SSMPS) and the OPP to conduct Project Deception Lake, arresting a total of six people.
Back on Jan. 12, SSMPS stopped a vehicle on Highway 17 East after receiving a tip from WRPS that the vehicle was transporting drugs. The vehicle was stopped, leading to officers seizing a large quantity of suspected cocaine and fentanyl with an estimated street value of $142,338.
A 23-year-old Kitchener man was arrested and charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking. He was held ahead of a bail hearing.
A few days later on Jan. 15, SSMPS officers executed a search warrant in that city and found large quantities of suspected fentanyl, methamphetamines, cocaine and drug paraphernalia. The street value of those drugs is estimated at $700,000.
The same Kitchener man was then charged with three more counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
It was then learned by WRPS that he had been charged with exporting meth, possession for the purpose of exporting, possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of proceeds of crime, and possession of a prohibited firearm.
The man had been accused of trying to ship meth to Australia, but it was intercepted by Canada Border Service agents.
Closer to home, WRPS executed search warrants on Jan. 13 and Feb. 20 at residences in Kitchener.
Suspected cocaine, psilocybin, cannabis, hashish, heroin and MDMA pills were found. Over $130,000 in Canadian currency was located along with luxury jewellery, handbags, precious metal bars, cell phones, three vehicles, a bulletproof vest, and a prohibited firearm with ammunition.
A 40-year-old man, a 30-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman, all from Waterloo Region, were charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of proceeds of crime and other offences.
A 28-year old Woodstock man was also charged for the same offences.
On March 11, the OPP arrested a 47-year-old man from Orangeville. He was wanted on outstanding warrants connected to the investigation.
