A Newmarket drug ring has been dismantled by York Regional Police after a five-month investigation into the trafficking of controlled substances.
York Regional Police seized more than $7 million worth of drugs and charged 39 people with 156 criminal offences. Eight of the suspects charged are Newmarket residents.
In total, police said they seized more than 11 kilos of suspected crystal methamphetamine, more than two kilos of fentanyl (including one of raw fentanyl, which could be processed into approximately 27 kilos of street fentanyl), more than six kilos of cocaine, 900 grams of MDMA (ecstasy), and more than 230 pounds of illicit cannabis.
In April, investigators received information about a woman trafficking controlled substances in Newmarket, police said.
“A suspect was identified and as investigators targeted the street-level trafficking, they identified a larger network with the capacity to supply large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in our community,” a news release from York Regional Police said.
York Regional Police launched Project Crystal as a result, during which police said they found evidence of drug traffickers dealing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine at the kilogram level.
The estimated street value of the fentanyl seized is $4 million, $900,000 for the crystal methamphetamine, and $660,000 for the cocaine.
Police said the investigation resulted in 23 search warrants being executed at locations in Newmarket, Vaughan, Mississauga, Ajax, and across Toronto.
“It’s encouraging to strike a blow against peddlers of harmful drugs in our communities, but our work is not done,” said Chief Jim MacSween. “York Regional Police continues to strategically target the supply and sale of illegal, dangerous drugs in our communities through intelligence-led policing, community partnerships and enforcement initiatives like Project Crystal.”
The eight Newmarket residents have a combined more than 20 charges:
- Freskela Malual, 33, is charged with seven counts of trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking fentanyl, possession of a controlled substance, possession for the purpose of distributing cannabis, conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, and conspiracy to traffic fentanyl
- Neil Guppy, 50, is charged with trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking fentanyl, conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, and conspiracy to traffic fentanyl
- Fraser Steele, 39, is charged with trafficking fentanyl, conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, five counts of failure to comply with release order, two counts of breaching probation, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine, and possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine
- Tammy St. Clair, 42, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine
- Taylor Russell, 30, is charged with possession of cocaine
- Lorne Rainey, 66, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine
- Patricia Little, 54, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine
- Alexander Henry, 31, is charged with trafficking fentanyl and conspiracy to traffic fentanyl
Five arrest warrants that have been issued for outstanding suspects wanted for a variety of drug-related charges as a result of Project Crystal. Shaylynn Fletcher, 38, of no fixed address, Laurence Santos, 43, of Toronto, Davyln Savory, 29, of Toronto, Nelson Gambol, 40, of Toronto, and John Piniotes, 40, of Mississauga, remain at large.
A full list of the accused and charges, the wanted suspects, as well as video and photos of the seized drugs, can be found here.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the York Regional Police Guns, Gangs and Drug Enforcement Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7817, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.
