Latest news with #Carrique
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Dark web drug bust nets thousands of pills, $400K Ferrari
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say they've dismantled a drug marketplace that operated on the dark web, seizing 27 kilograms of illegal drugs, thousands of dollars in cash and other items including a $400,000 Ferrari. Calling the intelligence-led investigation a first of its kind, OPP launched Project BIONIC in November. The operation was "aimed at dismantling an operation that used a dark web marketplace to ship a high volume of drugs" to numerous locations across Canada, according to an OPP news release issued Tuesday. On March 10, officers from the OPP's organized crime enforcement bureau arrested two suspects at a Canada Post outlet in Ottawa and seized 86 packages "containing various drugs ready to be shipped to addresses across Canada." The same day, officers from various OPP units carried out search warrants at three homes and one vehicle in Ottawa, seizing various amounts of suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine, MDMA, heroin, cocaine and other drugs in various forms. OPP estimate the street value of the seized drugs at $2.5 million. Officers also seized a handgun with an extended magazine, about $95,000 in cash, electronic devices including reprogrammable key fobs, and a 2018 Ferrari 488 Spider "valued at more than $400,000." 2nd raid nets 11 stolen vehicles A subsequent raid on March 27 yielded 11 stolen vehicles including Toyota Highlanders, Sequoias and Tundras, as well as a Lexus RX. OPP estimate the total value of the vehicles at $730,000. Four suspects, all from Ottawa and all in their 20s or early 30s, are facing a combined 85 criminal and drug charges including trafficking, possession and firearm offences. OPP describe the dark web as "a hidden portion of the internet … [that] requires special software to access," and say dark web marketplaces "enable the exchange of various illicit items, including stolen credentials, drugs and hacking tools." In the news release, OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique praised the operation for exposing "the alarming volume of dangerous drugs being sold through dark web marketplaces, with packages shipped across the country." The arrests "show that law enforcement can track and stop even the most complex online trafficking operations," and the investigation "plainly demonstrates the connections between drug trafficking and other crimes, such auto theft and illegal firearms," Carrique said. Alongside Project BIONIC, OPP announced the separate Project GOLDEN Tuesday. That southwest Ontario investigation, according to police, took 11 months, brought in a haul including 38 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and led to 140 charges against 15 people.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
OPP seizes 43.5 kg of fentanyl in what police call record-breaking drug bust
Ontario Provincial Police announced Tuesday that it has seized the largest amount of fentanyl in the force's history through two major investigations. Police confiscated approximately 43.5 kilograms of fentanyl through two months-long investigations, Project Bionic and Project Golden, according to an OPP news release. At a news conference in Orillia, Ont., OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique said the apprehended fentanyl amount is the equivalent of roughly 435,000 potentially lethal street-level doses. "To put that in perspective, a population of 435,000 would be the fifth-largest urban population centre in the province of Ontario," said Carrique. Carrique said there's "no indication" the fentanyl was destined for the United States or any other country. "I don't want us to be distracted by the narrative of fentanyl going from Canada into the U.S., and take away from the significant public safety concern around fentanyl," said Carrique. Nearly 20 people were arrested between the two investigations, with over 200 combined charges laid, police said. Police said Project Golden, spanned 11 months and involved a multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking network, affecting communities across southwestern Ontario. The investigation resulted in the seizure of approximately 38 kilograms of fentanyl, which provincial police said is OPP's largest fentanyl seizure to date. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is $5.4 million, police said. Police said officers also captured three guns, three vehicles, brass knuckles and more than $121,000. OPP said 15 people from across southern Ontario were arrested in connection with that investigation. They are facing a combined 140 charges. The other investigation, Project Bionic, spanned five months and aimed to dismantle an operation using a so-called "dark web marketplace" to ship drugs across Canada. "This investigation into the use of the dark web for drug trafficking is a first of its kind for the OPP," said Carrique. Police said the investigation revealed that orders would be placed through the dark web marketplace, then packaged and shipped to locations across Canada using various courier services and Canada Post. On March 10, members from OPP's organized crime enforcement bureau arrested two individuals at a postal service location in Ottawa where 86 packages were received containing various illicit drugs ready to be shipped across the country, police said. On the same day, officers also raided three homes and a vehicle, seizing approximately $95,000, a gun and two stolen cars valued at more than $400,000, police said. Officers also seized large quantities of drugs valued at $2.5 million and a number of items used in car thefts. In a second raid later that month, police said they recovered 11 stolen vehicles valued at $730,000. Police said four people from Ottawa were arrested and are facing 85 charges in connection with that investigation.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
OPP seizes 43.5 kg of fentanyl in what police call record-breaking drug bust
Ontario Provincial Police announced Tuesday that it has seized the largest amount of fentanyl in the force's history through two major investigations. Police confiscated approximately 43.5 kilograms of fentanyl through two months-long investigations, Project Bionic and Project Golden, according to an OPP news release. At a news conference in Orillia, Ont., OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique said the apprehended fentanyl amount is the equivalent of roughly 435,000 potentially lethal street-level doses. "To put that in perspective, a population of 435,000 would be the fifth-largest urban population centre in the province of Ontario," said Carrique. Carrique said there's "no indication" the fentanyl was destined for the United States or any other country. "I don't want us to be distracted by the narrative of fentanyl going from Canada into the U.S., and take away from the significant public safety concern around fentanyl," said Carrique. Nearly 20 people were arrested between the two investigations, with over 200 combined charges laid, police said. Police said Project Golden, spanned 11 months and involved a multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking network, affecting communities across southwestern Ontario. The investigation resulted in the seizure of approximately 38 kilograms of fentanyl, which provincial police said is OPP's largest fentanyl seizure to date. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is $5.4 million, police said. Police said officers also captured three guns, three vehicles, brass knuckles and more than $121,000. OPP said 15 people from across southern Ontario were arrested in connection with that investigation. They are facing a combined 140 charges. The other investigation, Project Bionic, spanned five months and aimed to dismantle an operation using a so-called "dark web marketplace" to ship drugs across Canada. "This investigation into the use of the dark web for drug trafficking is a first of its kind for the OPP," said Carrique. Police said the investigation revealed that orders would be placed through the dark web marketplace, then packaged and shipped to locations across Canada using various courier services and Canada Post. On March 10, members from OPP's organized crime enforcement bureau arrested two individuals at a postal service location in Ottawa where 86 packages were received containing various illicit drugs ready to be shipped across the country, police said. On the same day, officers also raided three homes and a vehicle, seizing approximately $95,000, a gun and two stolen cars valued at more than $400,000, police said. Officers also seized large quantities of drugs valued at $2.5 million and a number of items used in car thefts. In a second raid later that month, police said they recovered 11 stolen vehicles valued at $730,000. Police said four people from Ottawa were arrested and are facing 85 charges in connection with that investigation.
