'Instruments of death and destruction': London Police help take down major guns and drugs network
A nearly ten-months long investigation by multiple Ontario police services has resulted in more than 400 charges laid on a group of 22 individuals accused of smuggling guns and drugs over the Canadian-U.S. border.
"These firearms are invariably instruments of death and destruction, devastating families and shattering communities," said London Deputy Police Chief Stu Betts at a news conference Wednesday. The London Police Service was part of a joint forces operation, dubbed Project Monarch, which dismantled a major trafficking network that stretched across Ontario and into the United States.
The effort began in London in October 2021 according to York Regional Police Insp. Ahmad Salhia. "As the investigation began to evolve we identified a suspect in the London area who we believe was involved in illicitly importing firearms into Canada from the United States."
According to police, it then spread to include allegations of a gun smuggling ring where firearms were brought across the Canada-U.S. border through Walpole Island First Nation land west of Wallaceburg, Ont.
Walpole Island First Nation Chief, Charles Sampson (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)Officers from the Ontario Provincial Police, London police, York police, and Peel police said they built their case and then raided 22 homes and two businesses on July 28.
Twenty-seven hand guns, all believed to be from the U.S., and a quantity of drugs, including nine kilograms of cocaine, 1.9 kilograms of fentanyl and 20,000 Xanax pills were allegedly found, and 22 people were taken into custody.
Salhia said some of the fentanyl was pressed "to appear like candy – a car a butterfly or a number of other things."
"If someone was to consume such an item “the outcome would most certainly be fatal," he said.
Officers also seized 17 over-capacity magazines for the handguns and 300 rounds of ammunition.
The accused parties range in age from their 20s to 67-years-old, police said. Combined they are facing more than 400 criminal code offences.
An analysis found 20 of the guns seized were from the U.S., including places such as Florida, Ohio and Michigan.
"We believe that the balance of those firearms, the seven remaining, will also be traced to the U.S.," Salhia said.
Salhia said, at its narrowest point, the St. Clair River that separates Walpole Island First Nation from Port Huron, Michigan, is less than one kilometre wide.
He would not say what method was used to get the guns across the river, but added that an incident involving guns attached to a drone found in nearby Lambton County in late April is not related to this investigation.
Walpole Island First Nation Chief Charles Sampson said his police force is "terribly underfund," and simply doesn’t have the resources to effectively police such activity.
"We only have nine to eleven officers in the field and we have to protect an international border between Canada and the United States," he said. "We have one boat, but we need a whole marine division to do our job effectively."
He urged the provincial and federal governments to give his community more money to beef up its law enforcement capabilities.
"We desperately need adequate funding to get this job done."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.