Over $3M in drugs and gold seized, 11 arrested in ‘complex’ trafficking case

Police across the National Capital Region have laid multiple charges and seized millions of dollars worth of drugs in a trafficking investigation.

The “complex” case saw the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) working with Service de Police de la Ville de Gatineau, Cornwall Police Service, Canada Border Services Agency and the RCMP.

Dubbed Project Fossil, the investigation began in September 2023 and had the goal of “crippling” the high-level and mid-level drug trafficking networks around the nation’s capital.

“These are the people supplying illegal drugs to some of the drug trafficking networks that exist in Ottawa and communities in surrounding areas,” Mike Stoddart, OPP Acting Chief Superintendent, said. “The accused have operated without regard for public safety, and they do this for nothing more than profit.”

Through the investigation police were able to obtain evidence for 13 search warrants that were carried out in Ottawa, Carleton Place and Gatineau on Aug. 8.

From the warrants, officials were able to seize drugs with a street-value of $2.7 million including:

• 15 kg of suspected cocaine
• Four kg of suspected methamphetamine
• 2.25 kg of suspected heroin
• Seven pounds of suspected psilocybin and more than 1,000 psilocybin edibles
• 33 grams of suspected MDMA
• 2,000 hydromorphone tablets
• More than 35 pounds of illegal cannabis, two kg cannabis concentrates and more than 1,000 cannabis edibles
• Two firearms
• Approximately $337,000 in Canadian currency
• Approximately $880,000 in gold
• More than 75 prohibited devices (conducted energy weapons)

With a total of 165 offences, 11 people were charged as a result of the investigation:

• Chadi Hage — 34 charges
• Zaki Hakeemi — 27 charges
• Miguel Dube — 24 charges
• Adyson Hardy — 19 charges
• Arsid Kaduku — 17 charges
• Abdi Anonug — 15 charges
• Arthur Rubwindi — 11 charges
• Andrew Godard — 9 charges
• Avdeep Grewal — 6 charges
• Kerri-Ann Conway — 2 charges
• Jasdeep Grewal — 1 charge

The suspects are between the ages of 27 and 42, with nine of the accused remaining in custody, one is in jail for another offence and one was released.

They are schedule to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa at later dates.

“Sophisticated criminal networks have significant impacts across Ontario and drug trafficking networks cause great harm in our communities,” Tim Hodgins, Ottawa Police Service Acting Superintendent, said. “Project Fossil was a complex investigation, and it has had a significant impact on the supply of illegal narcotics in Ottawa and surrounding areas.”

Police say the investigation is still ongoing.