Joint Project Holcus Targets Drug Trafficking in Simcoe County
Members of the Central Region Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU), in partnership with the Barrie Police Service (BPS), have charged 11 people with 104 offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and Criminal Code (CC) as part of a joint drug trafficking investigation in Simcoe County.
The Central Region CSCU-led Project Holcus commenced in April of 2022, in partnership with BPS, in response to fatal and non-fatal overdoses linked to trafficking of crack cocaine and fentanyl in Simcoe County between January 1, and June 6, 2022.
On June 8, 2022, police executed 11 search warrants in Springwater Township, Barrie and across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), including Toronto, Whitby and Ajax. Members of the OPP Emergency Response Team, OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU), OPP Canine Unit, BPS, Toronto Police Service, Durham Regional Police Service, Peterborough Police Service, Peel Regional Police Service, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and York Regional Police Service assisted with the execution of the search warrants.
As a result of the investigation, police seized (approximate values):
· 509 grams of Fentanyl
· 3,358 grams of Cocaine
· 33 grams of Crack Cocaine
· 741 grams of Methamphetamine
· 347 grams of Heroin
· 1,446 unidentified prescription capsules
· $81,460 Canadian Currency
· Money Counter
· Cutting Agent
· FBE 509 Handgun
· Glock 43 Handgun
· Glock 40 Handgun
· Glock 19 Handgun
· 73 Rounds of 9mm ammunition
· 42 Rounds of .40 cal ammunition
· Bullet Proof Vest
· 2015 Infinity Q5S
· 2014 BMW B7X
· 2014 Jeep Cherokee
· 2017 Mercedes C45
· 18 Cellular phones
· 8 Digital Scales
The amount of fentanyl seized in this investigation represents approximately 5,090 street level doses.
Eleven people are facing 104 CDSA and CC charges including trafficking cocaine and fentanyl, possession of weapons and property obtained by crime.
Illicit drugs continue to pose a significant threat to community safety and wellbeing. Anyone who suspects drug trafficking activity in our communities is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
