Six more charged as Ottawa police wrap up prescription drug fraud investigation
Posted Nov 18, 2021 04:11:00 PM.
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is charging seven people after an investigation into a number of local prescription drug frauds.
“Project Mauve” was initiated after several reports, dating back to May of 2020, from local pharmacies regarding suspicious prescriptions.
Investigators had since been working diligently to identify the individuals responsible.
The OPS says it's wrapping up the project on Thursday, November 18, with 40 cases solved and seven adults charged, including a man police identified back in July of this year.
Police say the majority of these frauds were organized and involved several participants. The drugs that were targeted were hydrocodone and oxycocet.
Kristopher Khalil, 23, Ibrahim Mairane, 22, Amanuel Samuel, 23, Zackaria Dirie, 21, Nuredin Faqi, 20, Mahad Munin, 20, and Ali Khaleel, 20, all of Ottawa, were charged with a total of 64 criminal charges related to fraud, drug possession, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and breaches.
The OPS says three of the accused were detained and sent to show cause court, and four were released on undertakings with court appearances scheduled for later dates.
Anyone with information about these incidents or any prescription fraud incidents is asked to contact Detective Dallaire with the East Investigations Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 3416.
Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.
