'Project Harrington' Leads to Network of Prescription Medication and Illegal Drug Trafficking

THUNDER BAY, ON, July 25, 2012 /CNW/ - Numerous charges have been laid after several Ontario police services including Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) executed a number of search warrants in relation to a joint forces drug investigation.

At a media conference in Thunder Bay, OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) Commander -- Chief Superintendent Mike ARMSTRONG -- joined representatives of the Thunder Bay Police Service, Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service, Anishinabek Police Service, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to reveal details of the investigation -- dubbed Project HARRINGTON.

The six-month investigation targeted a network that transported and distributed large amounts of oxycodone and cocaine from southern Ontario to north-western Ontario, including First Nations communities.  Members of the Toronto Police Service who provided assistance throughout the investigation as well as members of the Peel Regional and Waterloo Regional Police Services who assisted with the search warrants were also acknowledged.

A total of nine (9) Controlled Drug and Substances Act (CDSA) search warrants were executed at locations in the Greater Toronto Area, Mississauga, Kitchener-Waterloo and Thunder Bay, including at the Thunder Bay District Jail. In all, police laid 95 charges against 11 persons, seven (7) of whom are in custody and four (4) others remain at large. Quantities of drugs worth approximately $1.13-million and cash were also seized. The charges include: Directing or Participating in a Criminal Organization; Trafficking and/or Conspiracy to Traffic; and Breach of Probation. One of the individuals - an employee of the Thunder Bay District Jail - is charged with Breach of Trust.

A Drug Strategy Coordinator for the City of Thunder Bay was present to support enforcement as one of the keys to reduce the harm caused by drug abuse. The investigation continues and more charges may be forthcoming.

NOTE: The list of persons charged has been appended to this media release (see ADDENDUM - Project Harrington - Charged Persons).

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ADDENDUM - PROJECT HARRINGTON - CHARGED PERSONS

NAME	AGE	CITY OF RESIDENCE	CHARGE	COURT & DATE and LOCATION of COURT
Rashad WAQUAD	71	MISSISSAUGA, ON	Criminal Organization - Participate Criminal Organization - Commit Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x 2 Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x 1 Trafficking (Oxycodone) x 2 Trafficking (Cocaine) x 1	Date: TBD Thunder Bay
Zahed KHAN	20	TORONTO, ON	Criminal Organization - Participate Criminal Organization - Commit Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Marihuana) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x 3 Trafficking (Oxycodone) x 3	Date: TBD Thunder Bay
Jabir KHAN	39	THUNDER BAY, ON (DISTRICT JAIL)	Criminal Organization - Direct Criminal Organization - Participate Criminal Organization - Commit Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Marihuana) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x 3 Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x 1 Trafficking (Oxycodone) x 3 Trafficking (Cocaine) x 1	Date: TBD Thunder Bay
Brandie MOSHER	35	Toronto, ON	Criminal Organization - Direct Criminal Organization - Participate Criminal Organization - Commit Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Marihuana) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x 3 Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x 1 Trafficking (Oxycodone) x 3 Trafficking (Cocaine) x 1 Breach of Probation	Date: TBD Thunder Bay
Justin CAIN	25	Toronto, ON	Criminal Organization - Participate Criminal Organization - Commit Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Marihuana) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x 3 Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x 1 Trafficking (Oxycodone) x 3 Possession for Purpose of Trafficking (Oxycodone) x 1 Trafficking (Cocaine) x 1	Outstanding Arrest Warrant
Jolene SHIMKOFF	33	Thunder Bay, ON	Criminal Organization - Commit Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x 1 Trafficking (Cocaine) x 1 Possession for Purpose of Trafficking (Oxycodone) x 1 / Breach of Probation	Date: TBD Thunder Bay
Preston THOMPSON	23	Thunder Bay, ON	Criminal Organization - Commit Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x 2 Trafficking (Oxycodone) x 2 Possession for Purpose of Trafficking (Oxycodone) x 1	Outstanding Arrest Warrant
Neil THOMPSON	30	Thunder Bay, ON	Criminal Organization - Commit Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Cocaine) x Global Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x 1 Trafficking (Oxycodone) x 1 Possession for Purpose of Trafficking (Oxycodone) x 1	Outstanding Arrest Warrant
Justin MORRISON	28	Weagamow Lake First Nation, ON	Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x 1 Trafficking (Oxycodone) x 1 Possession for Purpose Trafficking (Oxycodone) x 1 Breach of Probation	Outstanding Arrest Warrant
Dan SCHIEBLER	32	Thunder Bay, ON	Criminal Organization - Commit Conspiracy to Traffic (Oxycodone) x 1 Breach of Trust	24 July Thunder Bay
Candice STOROZUK	29	Thunder Bay, ON	Trafficking (Oxycodone) x 1 Possession for Purpose of Trafficking (Oxycodone) x 1	24 July Thunder Bay

 

 

 

SOURCE: Ontario Provincial Police

Contact:   
Sergeant Pierre Chamberland
Media Relations Coordinator

Phone: 
705 329-6878