$13M reasons why major fentanyl bust makes Ontario safer
Article content
Nearly $13 million worth of deadly fentanyl was taken off Ontario streets and 13 people arrested in a major drug bust.
Ontario Provincial Police say an investigation — Project Helston — was launched 19 months ago into suspected criminal networks of individuals producing and trafficking large amounts of fentanyl, and cocaine, with no regard for the devastation caused.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
$13M reasons why major fentanyl bust makes Ontario safer Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
“There is an opioid crisis in our country and we know that this drug is killing people every day,” OPP Det.-Insp. Peter Donnelly said during a virtual news conference Wednesday.
“Every time someone uses these drugs it’s a potential death sentence,” he added later in a phone interview.
In 26 years of policing, the veteran cop said he has “seldom been as disturbed” by the actions of those he has investigated as he is by those who peddle illicit fentanyl.
“I’ve spent most of my career in homicide, so I have seen a lot,” Donnelly said. “But these guys have absolutely no concern for anyone’s safety,”
“They just don’t care,” he said, adding “it’s all about money.”
When fentanyl is mixed with other substances — such as cocaine — to prepare it for sale, the final product ends up having varying amounts of the drug in each dose.
“Fentanyl can be fatal even in small quantities, and paired with the dangers of illicitly produced fentanyl with no quality control, the potential for a user to consume a lethal dose is high,” Donnelly said.
He said Project Helston was sparked by “an influx of illicit substances in Eastern Ontario” and concluded with the seizure of 31.5 kilograms of fentanyl — equal to more than 315,000 street-level doses — and 7.5 kilograms of cocaine.
The drugs were allegedly being produced in Eastern Ontario and the GTA, and were destined mainly for cities along the 401 corridor such as Kingston, Ottawa and Toronto, Donnelly said.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau officers, with help from the Cornwall RCMP Border Integrity Unit and cops in Quebec, executed four search warrants in Mississauga, Cornwall and Ottawa on Nov. 3.
Police allegedly seized 31.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 7.5 kilograms of cocaine, 68 oxycodone pills, a handgun with 17 rounds of ammunition and four vehicles.
The various drugs seized have a combined estimated street-value of more than $13.3 million.
“The sheer impact of the potential number of street-level doses of fentanyl seized by investigators is absolutely shocking,” OPP Deputy Commissioner Chuck Cox said during the news conference.
He said those “participating in trafficking or producing these deadly drugs … are not welcome in our communities.”
“It is time to put an end to the distribution of these illicit and deadly drugs.,” Cox added.
Thirteen people face a total of 141 charges.
Charged are Paul Nassif, 44, of Cornwall, Ont.; Antonio Jr. Belmonte, 39, of Newington, Ont.; Mohamed Abdulrahman Jemmie, 21, of Ottawa, Ont.; Hussein Abdulkadir Guled, 27, of Gatineau, Que.; Jabreal Aden, 25, of Ottawa, Ont.; Alyssa Printup, 32, of Akwesasne, Ont.; Deyshon Ricardo Palmer, 25, of Mississauga, Ont.; Carla Lee Delorimiere, 56, of Akwesasne, Ont.; Nicholas Lionel Nanku, 22, of Mississauga, Ont.: Kyrel Tyrone Gilbert-Cross, 22, of Markham, Ont.; Isaiah Williams, 23, Richmond Hill, Ont.; Zaki Shaquille Barrett Pera, 28, of Brampton; Chanel Pryce, 20, Toronto, Ont.
cdoucette@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @SunDoucette
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.