The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has arrested a trio of suspects following a drug bust at multiple locations.
Dubbed as ‘Project Oyster’ – it was a lengthy investigation conducted by the 3 District (Burlington) Street Crime Unit with the assistance of multiple units within the HRPS, the Hamilton Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
On Thursday, February 15th, police executed search warrants at addresses in Burlington, Hamilton, Beamsville and Grimsby. As a result of those warrants, officers seized more than five kilograms of cocaine and three loaded handguns. The three handguns were located by police in custom built hidden compartments inside of three vehicles also seized by police.
The items seized include:
- 5.75 Kilograms of Cocaine;
- 45 Kilograms of Cutting Agents;
- 1 Cocaine Press;
- 3 Loaded Glock Handguns with Serial Numbers Removed;
- 85 Oxycodone Pills;
- 75 Rounds of Ammunition;
- 28 Grams of Psilocybin;
- Approximately $30,000 in CAN currency.
Three male suspects were also arrested.
44-year-old Stephen Papadopoulos of Hamilton has been charged with the following:
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (two counts)
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in a Vehicle
- Possession of a Prohibited Firearm with Ammunition
- Possession of Firearm, Ammunition Contrary to Probation Order (two counts)
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
38-year-old Kim Hay Heng of Beamsville has been charged with the following:
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (three counts)
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm (two counts)
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in a Vehicle (two counts)
- Possession of a Prohibited Device
- Possession of Firearm, Ammunition Contrary to Probation Order (two counts)
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000
35-year-old Frank Pearlman of Grimsby has been charged with the following:
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (two counts)
All three suspects were held in custody pending a bail hearing in Milton.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2316.
Tips can also 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.
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