Police arrest 15 in a major drug bust - seize $155,000 in cash.

Crime 100By Pepper Parr

November 25, 2014

BURLINGTON, ON

 

We got the tease piece on Monday – be ready for a biggie announcement on a major drug arrest.

They were going to have pictures and even the Chief was going to be on hand to strut and show his stiff.

The Halton Regional Police Service Drug, Gun and Gang Unit had concluded an eight month drug investigation earlier that day with assistance from Hamilton Police Service, Waterloo Regional Police Service, Niagara Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, Peel Regional Police Service and the Durham Regional Police Service. They executed a total of 15 search warrants throughout Halton, Hamilton and Toronto.

They raked in a substantial amount of drugs, cash and firearms. Further details were to follow; a press conference was planned for the next day.

It was the end of an eight month investigation into a group involved with trafficking cocaine and marihuana. The investigation revealed the network was well entrenched in the drug culture in Halton Region, the City of Hamilton and the City of Toronto.

Dugs and cash November 24 arrestsModern day technology and counter-detection techniques deployed by this group presented significant obstacles to the investigative team. However, investigators were able to unravel the layers to this sophisticated drug trafficking operation. As a result, police identified the parties involved, their respective roles, drug stash locations and concealment methods.

Police arrested and charged 15 people, disrupting and possibly dismantling this drug trafficking network. Police seized the following evidence:

2.5 kilograms of cocaine
105 pounds of marihuana
1 kilogram of cannabis resin
2 semi automatic handguns and ammunition
$155,000
4 vehicles as offence related property

The charged persons are as follows:

James EVANS-O’CONNELL, 27yrs, from Burlington
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cocaine (7 counts)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Marihuana over 3 kilograms (6 counts)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Marihuana less than 3 kilograms
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance (13 counts)
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

Garth WATKINS, 29yrs, from Burlington
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cocaine
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (2 counts)
• Obstruct Police
• Possession of a Prohibited Weapon
• Breach of Probation
• Breach of Prohibition Order

Derek JACKSON, 24yrs, from Hamilton
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cocaine (7 counts)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Marihuana over 3 kilograms (6 counts)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Marihuana less than 3 kilograms

Erik STRONG, 29yrs, from Toronto
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Marihuana over 3 kilograms (3 counts)
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

Jessica GRANT, 26yrs, from Burlington
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cocaine
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (2 counts)
• Obstruct Police
• Possession of a Prohibited Weapon

James DEROSA, 27yrs, from Waterdown
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cocaine and Oxycodone
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
• Breach of Recognizance

Adam DEBOER, 24yrs, from Millgrove
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cocaine
• Possession of a Controlled Substance

Joshua YEAGER, 29yrs, from Milton
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Marihuana

Ryan KNAPMAN, 29yrs, from Burlington
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance (2 counts)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cocaine and Marihuana
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

Sean KNAPMAN, 27yrs, from Burlington
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance (2 counts)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cocaine and Marihuana
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

Amir PAREKH, 26yrs, from Toronto
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Marihuana
• Possession of a Controlled Substance
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

Frank GELENYI, 30 yrs, from Oakville
• Breach of Recognizance (currently on outstanding firearms charges from 2012)
• Unlawful Possession of Firearm
• Knowingly in Possession of an Unauthorized Firearm
• Possession of Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
• Breach of Firearms Prohibition

Greg JONES, 33yrs, from Toronto
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
• Trafficking a Controlled Substance; Marihuana
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Marihuana
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cannabis Resin
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

Merrick BROOMFIELD, 27yrs, from Stoney Creek
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance

Tristan MIGNOTT, 26yrs, from Stoney Creek
• Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
• Knowingly in Possession of an Unauthorized Firearm
• Tamper with Serial Number on Firearm
• Possession of Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
• Possession of a Controlled Substance
That was certainly a big bust; the lawyers in town will be busy; no word on who got bail.

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8 comments to Police arrest 15 in a major drug bust – seize $155,000 in cash.

  • A reader who asked to remain anonymous had trhis to say about the most recent drug bust: “The cops usually do what’s called a “hard knock”; they basically just come through the door early morning, and they have swat backup within reach depending on potential risk, and ambulances and hospitals go on standby during the same time of the raid. It is very serious armed and loaded business; that’s partly why these guys are so pissed. After the raids, they are all usually put under varying degrees of surveillance, so they can get quickly busted again and put into custody and off the streets while they await trial and sentencing. Their business is suffering right now.”

  • Peter Rusin – for someone who had no interest in the community until your laughable campaign for the mayor’s seat – you’ve certainly been one mouthy, opinionated loser who’s decided to wade into ANY discussion without a shred of reason, common sense or balance. Too many wannabes in the political forum already. Take a break, and breathe, think, — especially how you might be constructive, reasonable, logical. And THEN start contributing positively to discussions.

    • Peter Rusin

      Drugs are bad for you and have an adverse effect on mood swings resulting in random angry outbursts, as reflected by some of the writing of those that try and put a sentence together in support of drug dealers.

      My preference is to hear the police side of the story. The police are the most intelligent and knowledgeable when it comes to dealing with dealers. The police also witness first hand the negative effects that drugs and drug dealing scumbags have on the rest of the community. But the cops will not write in public, so I will.

      One of the reasons why I came out to amuse people like you in the campaign was to put pressure on drug dealing losers in this community and to provide support to the police who are doing a great job. The current council has blinders on with regards to this issue. I will continue the effort as best as I can; there is also a group of us who continue to keep watch.

      Overall, as for what gets published here, it really is quite enjoyable, almost laughable to see not only the busts, but also the funny part watching who participates in the discussion and what happens to the grammar, spelling, and the rational thinking part of the brain after illegal drug use.

  • Josh

    Pieter, your an idiot. I was one of the ppl raided. You got no (expletive) clue what your talking about, so shut the (expletive) up.

    • Peter Rusin

      Check your spelling and be polite to people who are trying their best to help people like you. You should firstly thank the police, and also be open to listening to others who are smarter than you. Say no to drugs, and more importantly, try and help keep children safe from drug dealers.

      The responses to a story about a drug bust like this should be positive in support of our police and their fantastic work, in order to help clean up the community and protect our vulnerable children and their families from drug traffickers.

      I am surprised that only one of your group is speaking out in public like this. Perhaps the others have been humbled by the experience, and hopefully will now choose to take a more desirable path away from the drug culture. Otherwise, these types of police raids will continue.

  • tom

    You sir, seem to be focusing on the canabis aspect of this story, I am probably fairly safe to assume that you have never indulged in an illegal substance, the issue is not the availability of said paraphernalia, but the lack of upstanding from the general populous, one can make the same argument over churches pushing the bible on people or the govt selling alcohol, an informed public is a safe public enough said, I would strongly advise you open your mind and do some research for yourself

    • Peter Rusin

      Cocaine, crack, crystal meth, pot, whatever. You and people who share your liberal attitudes about kids using drugs are morons, and contribute to the problem.

  • Peter Rusin

    It would help if the council took steps to prohibit the sale of illegal drug paraphernalia in convenience stores all across the city.

    This city allows a couple stores called Rock Universe located at Upper Middle Rd/Brant St; and Guelph Line/Prospect St. to profit from the illegal drug business by preying on young kids for revenue. The city is part of the drug trafficking and distribution problem.

    The city’s council has allowed for these types of businesses to exist, which only helps to exasperate the drug trafficking problem, increasing frustration and costs for the police, court system, social and mental health programs, and more importantly ruining the lives of young people and their families.

    The cops are doing a great job. They could also use some support from this city by having the city prohibit the sale of all the drug related crap any kid can buy together with chocolate bars and gum at the corner store.