The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) says a GTA-wide drug trafficking investigation dubbed ‘Project Spectre’ has concluded.
Search warrants in Toronto (five locations), Hamilton (two locations), Oakville, and Thorold were executed between Thursday, May 4th and Friday, May 5th. Five people were taken into custody at the time and a sixth was arrested on Tuesday, May 16th. At the Thorold location investigators located and dismantled an active psilocybin production site. As a result of this investigation police have seized:
- 4.5 kilograms of cocaine
- 4 kilograms of MDMA (ecstasy)
- 500 grams fentanyl
- 272 kilograms of packaged cannabis edibles
- 70 kilograms of packaged marihuana
- 1.9 kilograms packaged psilocybin
- 82 kilograms of psilocybin in various stages of growth
- 581 grams of Hashish
- 195 grams of ketamine
- 196 Oxycodone and Hydromorphone pills
- 92 grams Cathanone (bath salts)
- 34 kilograms of cutting agents
- $246,000 in Canadian currency
The estimated wholesale value of items seized is upwards of $1,000,000.
“Like the many projects before it, Project Spectre sends a clear, determined, committed message to those organized crime members that think they can operate within our borders with impunity; it is only a matter of time before you are held accountable,” says Inspector Dave Costantini, Regional Investigative Services HRPS.
Firearms were also seized:
- Ruger (with obliterated SN#)
- Glock SM
- Taurus G3C
- Walther PK
- Keltec Carbine with folding stock
- 50 round high capacity drum magazine
A video of the seized items can be found here.
Investigative efforts are underway to determine the origin of these firearms.
The following individuals have been charged for their alleged involvement:
39-year-old Christopher Causgrove-Carter of Toronto
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (5 counts- cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, hydromorphone, psilocybin)
- Possession for the Purpose of Distribution (3 counts- cannabis, hashish)
- Firearm and Prohibited Device related offences (12 counts)
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime
- Breach of Firearms Prohibition Order
35-year-old Bret Currie of Toronto
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (5 counts- cocaine, methamphetamine, cathinone, psilocybin, hydromorphone)
- Produce a Controlled Substance (fentanyl)
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime
- Possession for the Purpose of Distribution (2 counts- cannabis)
38-year-old Michael Eyre of Ancaster
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (2 counts- psilocybin, fentanyl)
- Produce a Controlled Substance (psilocybin)
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime
- Possession for the Purpose of Distribution (2 counts- cannabis)
38-year-old Parham Tabrizi of Toronto
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (3 counts- oxycodone, ketamine, cocaine)
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime
- Possession for the Purpose of Distribution (cannabis)
37-year-old Marta Plewka of Oakville
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (fentanyl)
- Possession for the Purpose of Distribution (cannabis)
37-year-old Michael Vanderzanden of Hamilton
- Breach of Firearms Prohibition Order
Causgrove-Carter, Currie and Eyre were subsequently held for bail. Tabrizi, Vanderzanden, and Plewka were released on undertakings with a future court date.
At the time of their arrests, Causgrove-Carter and Vanderzanden were on weapon prohibition orders with conditions not to possess any weapons.
Tips can be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
