Approximately $470,000 worth of narcotics was seized during MacDonald Avenue search warrants, including 700 grams of fentanyl, a record one-time seizure for the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.
Five people were arrested as a result of this incident.
Another $620,000 in drugs was seized following searches in Oshawa and Whitby.
These incidents are part of Project Otter that includes police service partners, the Durham Regional Police Service and Thunder Bay Police Service, says a news release.
Full text of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service news release follows:
Through intense investigations by the Crime Suppression Unit (CSU) and Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, as well as partners with the Durham Regional Police Service and Thunder Bay Police Service, more than $1,000,000 of drugs has been seized. The seizure includes more than 700 grams of fentanyl, a record one-time seizure for Sault Police.
“Removing this poison from our community will save lives. This amount of fentanyl is the equivalent of 70,000 potentially fatal doses. The dedication of our CSU, DEU and partner agencies is making all of our communities a safer place. We are committed to identifying traffickers in our community. We will seize their assets and bring them before the courts.”
During the execution of the two search warrants in Sault Ste. Marie, one of a residence in the 600 block MacDonald Avenue and one of the vehicle seized, officers located and arrested the five accused.
During the search warrants, officers located and seized:
• Approximately 703 grams of fentanyl
• Approximately 900 grams of methamphetamine
• Approximately 320 grams of Cocaine
• Approximately $74,000 in Canadian currency
• A stolen vehicle
The estimated street value of the drugs seized in Sault Ste. Marie is $470,000.
The Durham Regional Police Service executed two search warrants, one in Oshawa and another in Whitby. During the execution of the two search warrants, Durham Police officers located and seized:
• Approximately six (6) kilograms of methamphetamine
• Approximately $50,000 in Canadian, American, and Jamaican currency
The estimated street value of the drugs seized in Durham Region is $620,000.
The total estimated street value of the drugs seized during Project Otter is $1,090,000.
Leyla Ibrahim, 22, of Sault Ste. Marie is charged with:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (three counts)
- Possession of property obtained by crime (two counts)
Richard Anderson Brewster, 41, of Pickering, Ont., is charged with:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (three counts)
- Possession of property obtained by crime (three counts)
Oshane Davis-Forbes, 25, of Brampton, Ont., is charged with:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (two counts)
- Possession of property obtained by crime
- Failing to comply with release Order (four counts)
Maurice Fidd, 20, of Toronto, Ont., is charged with:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (two counts)
- Possession of property obtained by crime
Tequar Jones, 18, of Brampton, Ont., is charged with:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (two counts)
- Possession of property obtained by crime
Project Otter is not possible without the support and commitment of our partner agencies, the Criminal Intelligence Service of Ontario (CISO), the Durham Regional Police Service and the Thunder Bay Police Service.