Ottawa police seize nine guns, 2.5 kg of fentanyl in eight-month investigation

Five people have been charged in connection with an eight-month investigation into firearm trafficking and fentanyl distribution in Ottawa.

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) investigation titled 'Project Amethyst' concluded on Wednesday, Nov. 16, resulting in the arrest of four men and one woman. 

Throughout the investigation police seized the following:

• Nine crime guns
• 2,553 grams of fentanyl (2.5 kilograms)
• 680 grams of cocaine
• 1,792 grams of crystal methamphetamine
• 2,262 opiate based narcotic pills
• Approximately $150,000 in Canadian currency
• One luxury vehicle

The following five people are facing charges and were taken into custody to be held for bail:

• Azizul-Haq Haq Ahmadzai, 20, of Ottawa
• Asarul-Haq Ahmadzai, 26, of Ottawa
• Logan Campbell, 21, of Ottawa
• Yousif Alzayadi, 23, of Ottawa
• Johanie Rochon, 22, of L'ancienne Lorette, Québec

The individuals face in excess of 100 combined charges, including firearms possession, firearms trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking controlled substances, possession of proceeds of crime, breach of release conditions, flight from police and dangerous driving.

In the past two years, the OPS said it has responded to 132 calls for service in relation to shootings, and in that time, there have been 14-gun related homicides. Police have also responded to 1,231 overdose calls for service and 94 illicit drug-related deaths during that same time period.

According to police, two-and-a-half kilograms of fentanyl can produce up to 1,250,000 potentially lethal street level doses.
 
In a release, the OPS said it is committed to the overall harm reduction strategy with its community partners, and in addition to the Frontline Naloxone Distribution Program, it  will continue to use enforcement and suppression as a tool to help stem the flow of illicit and potentially fatal substances from hitting the streets. 

Project Amethyst was funded by the provincial government, through the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario (CISO).