People from Ottawa facing charges after police seize $200K worth of drugs, firearms as part of ongoing investigation

EDITOR’S NOTE: CityNews has removed the name and charges against one of the accused after learning the charges were withdrawn and/or stayed.

Six individuals, including four people from Ottawa, one from Carleton Place and one person from Gatineau, have been arrested and charged with a total of 42 offences following an investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-led Joint Forces Guns and Gangs Enforcement Team (PGNG).

This multi-jurisdictional investigation, dubbed Project Alloy, began in July after investigators learned of a criminal network trafficking illicit drugs, including crystal methamphetamine and cocaine, in the Ottawa and Thunder Bay areas.

On Nov. 9, 2023, nine search warrants were executed in Ottawa, Carleton Place, Thunder Bay and Gatineau. Officers seized a large quantity of illicit drugs, firearms and offence-related property valued at approximately $200,000.

Seized items include but are not limited to:

• More than 2.6 kilograms of suspected crystal methamphetamine;
• More than 1.2 kilograms of suspected cocaine;
• 6,898 suspected methamphetamine tablets;
• 175 x suspected hydromorphone pills;
• Five suspected ecstasy pills (MDMA);
• 2.4 grams of suspected crack cocaine;
• Four rifles and one loaded shotgun;
• Eight handguns, one of which was loaded;
• A crossbow and prohibited weapon (brass knuckles);
• numerous magazines and a large quantity of ammunition;
• 35 x suspected oxycodone tablets;
• 33 grams and 739 tablets/pills of methamphetamine (speed);
• Property obtained by crime;
• Drug trafficking paraphernalia;
• United States currency and a large quantity of Canadian currency;
• Two vehicles (BMW and a stolen Ford pickup truck); and,
• 11 x cell phones.

The six people arrested and charged are:

Andrew Godard, 35, of Ottawa is charged with:

• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – methamphetamine
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – crack cocaine
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – hydromorphone
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – oxycodone
• Possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm (three counts)
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm knowing it’s unauthorized
• Alter, deface or remove a serial number on a firearm
• Possession of a loaded firearm
• Possession of firearm or ammunition
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence

Anthony MacDonald, 40, from Ottawa is charged with:

• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – crystal methamphetamine
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – hydromorphone
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – oxycodone
• Possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm (two counts)
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm knowing it’s unauthorized
• Alter, deface or remove a serial number on a firearm

Tia Vong, 31, of Ottawa is charged with:

• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – crystal methamphetamine
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine
• Possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm (two counts)
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm knowing it’s unauthorized
• Alter, deface or remove a serial number on a firearm

Albert Russell, 40, of Gatineau is charged with:

• Possession of a schedule I substancem for the purpose of trafficking – methamphetamine
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – crystal methamphetamine
• Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
• Possession of a weapon for the purpose of dangerous to the public peace

Nicholas Freda, 32, of Carleton Place has been charged with:

• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine
• Possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm knowing it’s unauthorized
• Possession of a loaded firearm
• Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – methamphetamine
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – crystal methamphetamine

Godard, Russell, MacDonald and Freda will appear before an Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa on Nov. 14, 2023.

Vong was scheduled to appear in an Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa on Dec. 5, 2023.