Nine-month drug investigation ends with charges in Ottawa, Smiths Falls, Carleton Place

The Ontario Provincial Police is charging a dozen people, including a handful in Ottawa, Smiths Falls, Carleton Place, Perth and Kingston, with offences after a major investigation targeting drug distribution networks.

The nine-month long investigation focused on drug traffickers who OPP officers say were “significantly compromising public safety in communities throughout Ontario and into Quebec.”

Police explain that the accused were high-level targets linked to Ottawa-based organized crime groups and other previously known organized crime groups, who distributed drugs to mid-level drug dealers and street gangs.

OPP officers, alongside other local police agencies, executed two warrants in Stoney Creek and Burlington, and another six warrants on January 23, in Ottawa, Carleton Place, Smiths Falls, Perth and Gatineau.

The teams combined to seize 8.5 kg (18.7 lbs) of cocaine, 9 kg (19.8 lbs) of methamphetamine, 4 kg (8.8 lbs) of ecstasy, more than 100 lbs (45.3 kg) of cannabis, 8.5 kg (18.7 lbs) cannabis concentrates and $30,000 in Canadian currency.

Other residents from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Quebec are facing numerous drug-related charges as well.

A total of 12 people have been charged with 81 offences:

Viken Dokmajian, 42, of Ottawa, is facing:

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000 – Sect. 354 (1)(a) CC (two counts)
• Traffic in Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) – CDSA 5(1) (six counts)

Abdallah Abdelrazzaq, 30, of Gatineau, is facing:

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000 – Sect. 354 (1)(a) CC (six counts)
• Traffic in Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) – CDSA 5(1) (six counts)

Mark Miller, 34, of Carleton Place, is facing:

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000 – Sect. 354 (1)(a) CC (three counts)
• Traffic in Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) – CDSA 5(1) (three counts)

Clarence Mulrooney, 38, of Carleton Place, is facing:

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000 – Sect. 354 (1)(a) CC (three counts)
• Traffic in Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) – CDSA 5(1) (four counts)
• Fail to comply with probation order – CC 733.1(1) (three counts)

Josh Belfiori, 29, of Carleton Place, is facing:

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000 – Sect. 354 (1)(a) CC (two counts)
• Traffic in Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) – CDSA 5(1) (two counts)

Jamie Crowder, 40, of Smiths Falls, is facing:

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000 – Sect. 354 (1)(a) CC (four counts)
• Traffic in Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) – CDSA 5(1) (four counts)

Matthew Purcell, 33, of Smiths Falls, is facing:

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000 – Sect. 354 (1)(a) CC
• Traffic in Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) – CDSA 5(1)

Brett Hall, 38, of Smiths Falls, is facing:

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000 – Sect. 354 (1)(a) CC
• Traffic in Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) – CDSA 5(1)

Trevor Hands, 40, of Perth, is facing:

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000 – Sect. 354 (1)(a) CC (three counts)
• Sale of cannabis to an individual 18 or over – CA 10(1)(a) (three counts)
• Unauthorized possession of prohibited or restricted firearm – CC 91(1)
• Unauthorized possession of a weapon – CC 91(2)

Stephen Kraus, 51, of Kingston, is facing:

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000 – Sect. 354 (1)(a) CC (three counts)
• Sale of cannabis to an individual 18 or older – CA 10(1)(a) (three counts)

Dominic Gravelle, 29, of Stoney Creek, is facing:

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000 – Sect. 354 (1)(a) CC (seven counts)
• Traffic in Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) – CDSA 5(1) (three counts)
• Traffic in Schedule 1 Substance (Crystal Meth) – CDSA 5(1) (three counts)
• Traffic in Schedule 1 Substance (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine – Ecstasy) – CDSA 5(1) (three counts)
• Sale of cannabis to and individual 18 years or older – CA 10(1)(a) (two counts)

Robert Vrbanic, 33, of Hamilton, is facing:

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking Schedule 1 (Cocaine) – CDSA 5(2)
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking Schedule 1 (MDMA) – CDSA 5(2)
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking Schedule 1 (Crystal Meth) – CDSA 5(2)

The accused were held in custody upon arrest and are expected to appear at an Ontario Court of Justice in various locations on various dates. The investigation continues.