46 ARRESTED IN OPP/LPS DRUG INVESTIGATION
24 more with outstanding warrants will be picked up
Posted 29 days ago
A 17-month drug investigation put a huge dent in local drug trade and ended in the arrest of 46 people — 34 of them from Leamington, facing over 300 drug charges.
Drugs, including oxycodone, cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy, morphine and marijuana, with an estimated street value of over $200,000, were seized by about 100 officers involved in Wednesday morning’s raids which were conducted by about 100 officers from the Leamington Police Service, the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB)-Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU).
Five vehicles, 20 long guns, two crossbows and over $19,000 cash were seized as well.
Leamington Police Chief Dean Gow said arrest warrants have also been issued for another 24 people.
Gow was certainly pleased with the outcome of the investigation and said officers dealt a serious blow to the drug trade in Leamington, Kingsville and Essex County Wednesday morning.
The chief said it was the largest and most successful investigation he has been a part of.
Gow said he believes the confiscated drugs were headed to users in this area — “anyone and everyone,” he said, “all different sectors of our society.”
The chief said talk of such a joint project began in early 2008, with the actual investigation getting underway in the summer of 2008.
He said the key to its success was keeping it quiet.
Gow admits Leamington Police have taken a lot of criticism in the past year over the local drug activity here but said he hopes this reassures local residents that they are concerned about the problem as well and will continue to target drug traffickers and users.
“This is a good day for Leamington,” said Deputy Mayor and Leamington Police Services Chairman Rob Schmidt, “this should certainly reinforce the fact that we have a good police force here.”
“They have taken a lot of abuse recently,” said Schmidt, “ this should show residents their commitment to the project.”
Mayor John Adams was equally proud of the efforts.
“We would like to thank the OPP and our local police force,” said Adams. “This is a problem we’ve certainly got to stop.”
Inspector Rick Derus of the Essex OPP applauded the joint effort. He said the OPP and Leamington Police Service have a long history of working together on a number of investigations and have always had an outstanding relationship.
“I’m hopeful today’s events will send a strong message,” said Derus, “that drug activity will not be tolerated.”
During the early morning raids, search warrants were executed at residences on Clark Street, Talbot Road, Howard Street, Robson Road, Forest Avenue and Pulley Road in Leamington, as well as County Road 20 in Essex and Delmer Crescent, McLean Street and Heritage Road in Kingsville.
