Skip to content

17 people, five establishments face charges after massive drug sweep

Police seized drugs, four vehicles, a home and a diamond ring
cocaine 2016
File photo

A multi-jurisdictional drug investigation has resulted in six more arrests and brought the total number of charges laid to 112 in the Simcoe County area.

Officers from Barrie Police,  South Simcoe Police and the Ontario Provincial Police were involved in the "complex" six month investigation.

Simultaneous search warrants were executed at five addresses in Barrie, three in Bradford and one in Oro-Medonte Township in the early morning hours of May 12.

Eleven people were arrested at that time bringing the total number rounded up now to seventeen.

Police describe the investigation as complex because it involved multiple police jurisdictions, and charges against both people and establishments in different cities.

"It was a project over six months, not just looking at street level but also looking at people cutting the drugs, sending it out to the distributors - from upper management right to ground level," said Barrie Police Const. Nicole Rodgers.

Police say they seized cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, oxycodone, hashish and methamphetamine with an estimated street value of occur $107,000.

A large quantity of a substance was also seized that has now been identified to be Phenacetin, which is an illegal cancer causing agent used in the preparation of cocaine for sale on the street. 

"The local cocaine supply has been diminished substantially by this operation," said South Simcoe Police Const. Rich Williamson. "These were guys who were (allegedly) supplying the local drug trade.  Major players in the group." 

Five licensed establishments in Barrie and Bradford have been charged under the LLA for Permit Sale of Controlled Substance.

Under Asset Forfeiture Legislation four motor vehicles, one Barrie residence, and one diamond ring have also been seized, their values values yet undetermined.