A drug-dealing network spanning Oakville, Milton, Mississauga and Guelph has been taken down following a police operation known as “Project Fade.”
The operation lasted four months and was carried out by the Halton police force.
It managed to nab four drug traffickers and seize a large amount of drugs with an estimated street value of $1.6 million.
Police say the operation began after an investigation had been launched into a Milton man accused of selling cocaine.
Authorities soon realized that this man was one part of a larger drug-trafficking network that involved three other men and extended to the surrounding Halton region.
Six raids were carried out in the aforementioned cities, between March 25 and 25.
Officers say they seized an estimated 20 kilograms of cocaine, an ounce of MDMA, over 500 prescription pills (including Oxycodone and Clonazepam), a quarter-ounce of meth and approximately $350,000 in Canadian currency.
“The drugs seized in this investigation have an estimated street value exceeding 1.6 million dollars,” said Dave Costantini, a superintendent with the Halton police force.
“When we consider the fact that in 2024, our officers have responded to 136 drug poisoning events, 9 of which resulted in a fatality, this is a significant interdiction which will ultimately save many lives.”
As a result of the investigation, four men have been arrested and are facing charges:
- Sami Karnaz of Milton is facing two counts of possession for trafficking cocaine, as well as a charge for property obtained by crime of more than $5,000;
- Gurdeep Bagri of Guelph is facing two counts of possession for trafficking cocaine, as well as a charge for property obtained by crime of more than $5,000;
- Fadey Tannus of Mississauga is facing five counts of possession for trafficking cocaine, MDMA, crystal methamphetamine, oxycodone and clonazepam, and;
- Phillip Chung of Mississauga is facing one count of possession for trafficking cocaine.
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