Eleven people are facing a combined total of 55 charges after police carried out simultaneous search warrants across parts of southern Ontario targeting an alleged drug trafficking operation.
Halton police and Ontario Provincial Police in Haldimand County launched Project Catfish in May of this year.
Investigators executed nine search warrants on Sept. 5 at homes and in vehicles throughout Burlington, Cambridge, Dunnville, Hamilton and Toronto.
Officers say they seized three firearms, ammunition, two crossbows, methamphetamine, cocaine, oxycodone, fentanyl, two vehicles and $120,000 in cash.
The following people have been arrested and charged with firearm and drug trafficking-related offences.
Dario Dilber, 34, of Dunnville:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl)
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)
- Possession of prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition
- Possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
- Careless storage of a firearm
- Fail to Comply – Release Order (four counts)
- Possession of a firearm, ammunition contrary to prohibition order (five counts)
Julia Dowling, 39, of Dunnville:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl)
- Possession of prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition
- Possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
- Careless storage of a firearm
- Possession of a firearm, ammunition contrary to prohibition order
Abdalle Farah, 31, of Burlington:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Careless use of firearm
- Tampering with serial number
Timothy King, 51, of Hannon:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl)
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (methamphetamine)
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (oxycodone)
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Knowledge of unauthorized possession of a weapon
- Tampering with serial number of firearm or possession of firearm knowing serial number has been altered, defaced or removed
- Possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order (five counts)
- Careless Use of a firearm, weapon, ammunition
Unauthorized possession of a weapon
Issa Sufi, 28, of Toronto:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl)
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (hydromorphone)
- Fail to Comply – Undertaking
Michael Tesfay, 28, of Cambridge:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine) (two counts)
- Breach of release order (three counts)
Yahya Yusuf, 33, of Burlington:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Careless use of firearm
- Tampering with serial number
Sharmel Facey, 19, of Dunnville:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl)
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)
Faycal Krazini, 23, of Cambridge:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine) (two counts)
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (oxycodone)
Karel Beleba, 45, of Hamilton:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (methamphetamine)
Katherine Hayes, 35, of Dunnville:
- Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Halton police’s 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2316.
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