Police forces from northwestern Ontario have laid numerous charges in what they are calling Project Disruption.
Officials tell us 431 charges were laid against 80 confirmed and suspected gang members.
Bryan MacKillop is a Superintendent with the OPP’s Organized Crime Enforcement Unit. He tells us in Thunder Bay, the most prevalent gangs encountered are GTA based-The Galloway Boys, Ardwick Bloods and the Thorncliffe Park Kings.
Thirteen firearms, 200 rounds of ammunition, $755,000 and several types of illegal drugs were seized. Officials note many of the seized weapons were loaded.
Officials tell us 2,728 oxycodone pills, 2.8 kilograms of cocaine, 927.58 grams of crack cocaine, 1.06 kilograms of fentanyl or enough to potentially cause more than 500,000 fatal overdoses were seized.
Project Disruption is a partnership between Thunder Bay Police, OPP, Nishnawbe Aski Police and Anishinabek Police Service.
Nishnawbe Aski Police Service Acting Deputy Chief Darryl Snider tells us in some First Nation communities an Oxy80 could go from $100 to $500 for a single pill.
He notes the communities NAPS serves are vulnerable since there is not a lot of security or police presence which leads to a lucrative drug market.
The investigations took place between October 1, 2018, and April 5, 2019. Thunder Bay Police Chief Sylvie Hauth says this investigation isn’t over and they intend to continue to crack down on guns and gangs.
Thunder Bay Police hope to be successful in a bid for provincial funding set aside to address the ongoing issue.
