Police nab 14 people in drug trafficking investigation, with more to come

A street-level drug trafficking investigation in the ByWard Market and Vanier area has been successful, but according to the Ottawa Police Service, there is still work to be done. 

The investigation was driven by community and service provider complaints, which identified 31 people involved in selling cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, amphetamines, methamphetamine, hydromorphone, xanax, and cannabis marihuana.

Since Wednesday, 14 people ranging in age from 23 to 55, have been arrested and charged in relation to this case.

Analysis is still pending on many of the drugs seized.

“Again, our Street Crime Unit responded to both community and service provider complaints related to ongoing street level drug trafficking in the downtown core,” said S/Sgt. Rick Carey of the Ottawa Police Service Drug and Street Crime Units. “Some of those arrested and charged are selling drugs to be able to feed their own addictions. Many others are simply preying on people's addictions across the city for profit.”

Two separate search warrants, conducted in May, were part of this investigation. One of them happened on May 9, on Carillon Street in Vanier. The other happened on May 16, on Shakespeare Street in Vanier, which resulted in the seizure of crack cocaine.

This is the list of people charged, so far:

1.      Roger Egidio, 51, of Ottawa
2.      Troy Forbes, 32, of Ottawa
3.      Youssouf Bouragba, 22, of Hamond
4.      Steve Mavis, 55, of Ottawa
5.      Calvin Peacock, 34, of Ottawa
6.      Andy Jalbert, 36, of Ottawa
7.      Gordon Vance, 55, of Ottawa
8.      Daniel Simpson, 29, of Ottawa
9.      Bouchra Ben-Nassar, 30, of Ottawa
10.     William Ouellette, 23, of Ottawa
11.     Hyet Mary Jabara, 49, of Ottawa
12.     Jacob Beaver, 28, of Ottawa
13.     Harlan Nanokeesic, 25, of Ottawa
14.     Chad Brownrigg, 33, of Ottawa

Arrests and charges for another 15 people are expected.

Charges include:

– Trafficking Schedule I – 42 counts
– Possession for the Purpose Schedule I – 21 counts
– Possession for the Purpose Schedule II – 2 counts
– Possession Schedule I – 2 counts
– Possession Proceeds Under $5,000 – 41 counts
– Fail to Comply Recognizance/Undertaking – 2 counts.

Anyone with information regarding drug complaints is encouraged to contact the Ottawa Police at 613-236-1222 ext. 7300. Reports can be made online at Ottawapolice.ca.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or by downloading the Ottawa Police app.