Thunder Bay police investigations lead to seizure of more than $1M in illicit drugs
Over 40 people charged, 7 guns and 2 vehicles also seized by police
More than $1 million in illicit drugs were seized by Thunder Bay police over the course of two investigations conducted last year.
On Tuesday, police announced the results of Project Incognito and Project Decoy, investigations that led to the arrest of more than 40 people, and the seizure of firearms and vehicles, police said.
The drugs seized included quantities of cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine, police said.
"Project Decoy was a nine-week-long, street-level drug investigation, which is primarily focused on community impacts, and local and non-local residents who continue to engage in the sale of illicit drugs," Thunder Bay police Det. Sgt. Chris Carlucci said at a media event on Tuesday. "Project Decoy identified and targeted these locations based on community concerns, as well as information brought forward by citizens through reporting, our community partnerships, and through Crime Stoppers."
Carlucci said Project Decoy resulted in 38 arrests — 17 of the accused are from outside of Thunder Bay — and a total of 215 charges.
Project Decoy also saw police seize more than $750,000 in drugs, about $160,000 in cash, three handguns, one shotgun and one vehicle.
Project Incognito, meanwhile, was a five-week investigation, which Carlucci said was a "spinoff" of Project Decoy, that "resulted in seven people being arrested, four local residents and three non-local residents."
Project Incognito led to the seizure of more than $350,000 in drugs, three firearms (two of which were handguns) and two vehicles, Carlucci said.
"I think it definitely highlights the demand of illicit drugs," he said. "Both these investigations span over nine weeks, so if you look, we're seeing over a million dollars worth of drugs in a very short period of time, not to mention seven firearms as well, which I think speaks to the level of violence that is present in this area."
All of the accused have appeared in court, police said.
Police acting Det. Insp. Robert Gombola said the two investigations were led by the Thunder Bay police intelligence unit.
"The successful completion of these investigations were made possible through the support of the Criminal Intelligence Service of Ontario, and funding through the Ontario government Ministry of the Solicitor General."