Seventeen individuals are dealing with charges following an 18-month investigation into the unlawful drug commerce working within the Ottawa space.
The Ottawa Police Service and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) offered an replace on the “Mission Champion” investigation on Thursday, with 17 individuals dealing with a complete of 149 felony charges.
“Mission Champion’s mandate was to disrupt and arrest members of violent felony networks targeted on the unlawful drug commerce working within the Ottawa space,” Chief Eric Stubbs advised reporters.
“These people got here to our consideration throughout felony investigations that concerned violent crimes, together with homicides and shootings.”
Officers with Murder, Weapons and Gangs, Avenue Crime and Intelligence models, “focused felony organizations liable for cocaine and drug trafficking and street-level gun violence,” police mentioned.
Police seized 6.5 kilograms of cocaine and a small quantity of crack cocaine, together with 5 weapons in the course of the investigation.
The Ottawa Police Service offered an replace on the “Mission Champion” investigation on Thursday, with 17 individuals dealing with a complete of 149 felony charges. (Katie Griffin/ Ontario Chronicle Ottawa)
The 149 charges fluctuate by particular person, with police saying the costs embody tried homicide, drug trafficking, possession of weapons, assault and assault police.
“Police additionally laid a number of charges of collaborating in and/or supporting a felony group,” police mentioned in a media launch. “These charges are important and spotlight the investigation’s give attention to people who deliberate, organized, and sustained felony actions, typically utilizing violence to keep up management.”
Police say 14 individuals have been arrested to date and that the outcomes of the undertaking ought to have an effect on violent crime.
“I feel it is a possibility for communities now possibly to take a little bit of a breath, possibly attain out to their youth and all of the programing that we’re setting up to direct people in direction of extra optimistic behaviors and actions and issues of that nature,” mentioned Ottawa Police Supt. Jamie Dunlop. “However it’s additionally a lesson to say how lengthy do now we have till others possibly wish to fill the void [of these groups].”
Ontario Provincial Police supported the Ottawa police investigation.
“The purpose was removed from easy; to disrupt this organized group’s involvement in unlawful narcotics in Ottawa and surrounding areas,” mentioned Det.-Insp. Mike Moore. “These points typically cross jurisdictional boundaries, making it important for regulation enforcement businesses to share intelligence, sources and methods.”
