Owen Sound Police say they have arrested and charged ten people in a drug trafficking investigation.
Police say it was, “An extensive project targeting traffickers of deadly drugs on the streets of Owen Sound.”
They say their investigation targeted fentanyl and methamphetamine dealers and it was done with funding provided by the Ontario Government and the support of Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario.
Police say, through the use of various investigative techniques, they arrested the ten people, the bulk of whom are from Owen Sound, as well as one each from Ajax, Toronto and Sauble Beach and charged them with offences related to the selling of fentanyl and meth.
They say two residential search warrants were executed by city police.
Police say they have laid 72 criminal charges and seized over $20,000 worth of narcotics including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, oxycodone, morphine and illicit cannabis.
According to police, all of those arrested were held in custody for bail hearings.
City police say in a release, “This investigation was of particular significance given increases seen recently in overdoses.”
Owen Sound Police say four people have died in the city from drug overdoses since September.
Police Chief Craig Ambrose says, “The loss of these members of our community is nothing short of tragic, and preventable. There will be no tolerance in our city for those that prey on our most vulnerable populations, and this project will be only the first in an ongoing initiative here that will ensure they continue to be brought to justice.”
City police say, on top of the arrests announced today, there may be further arrests in the coming weeks.
Inspector Dave Bishop says, “I’m proud of all the members of our Service who utilized their knowledge and expertise to partner with the Criminal Intelligence Service of Ontario to make this project a reality, and a success. Getting these dealers and their drugs off of our streets may save yet another family from having to experience the loss of a loved one, particularly over this holiday season.”