Project WEAVER
Image: OPP Header
FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND QUANTITIES OF COCAINE AND ILLEGAL CANNABIS SEIZED
AFTER EIGHT-MONTH INVESTIGATION
- Members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club in the London area responsible for trafficking cocaine in large quantities.
- A criminal network trafficking firearms and cannabis in the London area.
- A criminal network responsible for trafficking firearms and cocaine in the Brantford area.
- A criminal network engaged in the trafficking of offensive weapons, explosive devices and cocaine in the Brantford area, including grenades and a grenade launcher.
On March 9, 2021, police executed 11 search warrants in London (2), Brantford (4), Ancaster, Paris, St. Thomas, Oakland and Barrie. Members from OPP OCEB, BEU, Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU), PWEU, Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit (PAFU), K-9, Community Street Crime Units (CSCU), Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET), and Aviation as well as specialty units from Hamilton Police Service, Brantford Police Service, London Police Service, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Barrie Police Service, Stratford Police Service and St. Thomas Police Service assisted with the execution of the search warrants.
As a result of this investigation, police seized:
- 31 firearms
- 81 grenades
- Two (2) grenade launchers
- 22 other prohibited devices
- Three (3) explosive projectiles
- 10.85 kilograms of cocaine
- 216 pounds of illegal cannabis
- Five (5) pounds of hash
- More than $10,000 in other illegal cannabis products
- 36 pounds of psilocybin
- 715 grams of MDMA
- One (1) Outlaws MC vest
- $127,757 in Canadian Currency
- $2,106 in US currency
- Eight (8) vehicles
The investigative
team has seized a total of 31 firearms as a result of Project WEAVER. The
OPP-led PWEU has worked collaboratively with its partners to trace the origin
of these firearms. At this time, the origin of all 31 firearms is not known,
however some originated domestically in Canada, and some have an origin in the
United States. This portion of the investigation is still underway.
Investigators have worked
tirelessly to contribute to the disruption of the illegal firearms, offensive
weapons and drug trafficking market in Ontario. The four criminal networks
responsible for these illegal activities have jeopardized the safety of
numerous Ontario communities. Investigators have diligently gathered
intelligence and evidence over the past several months in order to lay
significant and serious charges against those responsible. Some of these
individuals have criminal backgrounds and were already bound by existing
firearms prohibitions.
A total of 10
people have been charged with 268 offences. A full list can be found on the
Addendum of Charged Persons within the Project WEAVER media kit. Upon
arrest, three of the accused were held in custody. The remainder were released
with conditions. They are expected to appear at an Ontario Court of Justice in
London on March 19, 2021.
QUOTES
RESOURCES
Please visit https://youtu.be/dWncLp15cO4 to view
the full announcement from the Ontario Provincial Police, London Police
Service, Brantford Police Service and the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service.
A full backgrounder on the BEU is available as an attachment to this release.
Media resources including video clips, evidence photos, an Addendum of Charged Persons and graphics can be found at http://www.opp.ca/news/#/mediakit
Media Contact: Detective Staff Sergeant Scott Wade
Operations Manager, Biker Enforcement Unit
Phone: 289-257-0304
E-mail: scott.wade@opp.ca
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Significant Local Impact from Project WEAVER
Gun violence has significantly impacted the community of Brantford. As Project WEAVER has demonstrated, sophisticated and organized crime requires a collaborative and focused effort amongst neighbouring law enforcement services in order to effectively combat the threat these criminals pose and ensure the safety of our communities.
Investigators from BPS worked alongside the OPP Biker Enforcement Unit and other partner agencies, dedicating their efforts over the past eight months to the successful resolution of Project WEAVER.
An involved and complex investigation, Project WEAVER has dismantled multiple criminal networks and removed many illegal firearms, other offensive weapons and illegal substances from our communities. The success of this multi-jurisdictional project will have a direct impact on public safety in our local community.
As a result of Project WEAVER, a criminal network responsible for trafficking firearms and cocaine in the Brantford area, as well as a criminal network engaged in the trafficking of offensive weapons, explosive devices and cocaine in the Brantford area, including grenades and a grenade launcher have been identified.
Investigators from the Brantford Police Service including members of BPS Emergency Response Team (ERT), K-9 Unit, Street Crime Unit and the Criminal Intelligence Unit were all involved in the successful execution of the Project WEAVER search warrants.
On March 9, 2021, as part of Project WEAVER, police executed four search warrants within the City of Brantford, laying a combined total of 73 charges against two individuals from the City of Brantford. The accused parties are all being processed through courts in London, ON.
Multiple illegal firearms, ammunition, grenades, prohibited weapons, cocaine, psilocybin and illegal cannabis were seized as a result of the local search warrants and were all connected to the Brantford area or local networks.
QUOTE:
At this time, I would also like to sincerely thank our partner services for their dedication and commitment to the project. The Ontario Provincial Police, London Police Service, Barrie Police Service and the Department of National Defense, thank you to each and every officer involved.
Project WEAVER is an excellent example of the important collaboration and teamwork between law enforcement agencies that is keeping our community safe." – Chief Rob Davis
Image: Project Weaver Poster