Project Esher Targeted Illicit Drug Operation Stretching From Quinte West To Kingston
(GREATER NAPANEE, ON) – Members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) East Region Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU) and Belleville Police Service have shut down a significant crystal methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking operation in eastern Ontario.
CSCU officers, along with members of the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB), OPP Emergency Response Team (ERT) and Belleville Police Service launched the invest igation, dubbed “Project Esher”, in early 2020. Initial arrests occurred on May 27, 2020 after a traffic stop on Highway 401 in Quinte West, in which officers seized several kilograms of suspected crystal meth and two people were arrested.
On August 27, 2020, CSCU, Belleville Police and OPP OCEB members executed search warrants in Belleville and Toronto. Two people were arrested and officers seized nearly two kilograms of crystal meth, a quantity of cocaine, over $130,000 in Canadian currency and two loaded handguns.
Derrick VELEY, age 31 of Loyalist Township is charged with:
Possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to a Prohibition Order – Criminal Code (CC) sec. 117.01(1) – four counts
Resist a Peace Officer – CC sec. 129(a)
Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime – CC sec. 354(1)(a)
Failure to comply with an undertaking – CC sec. 145(4)(a)
Failure to comply with a Probation Order – CC sec. 733.1(1) – two counts
Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking – Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) sec. 5(2) – two counts
Alexander DUMOUCHEL, age 29 of Quinte West is charged with:
Dangerous operation – CC sec. 320.13(1)
Flight from Peace Officer – CC sec. 320.17
Resist a Peace Officer – CC sec. 129(a)
Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime – CC sec. 354(1)(a)
Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking – CDSA sec. 5(2) – two counts
Cody BUTLER, age 23 of Quinte West is charged with:
Possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to a Prohibition Order – CC sec. 117.01(1) – three counts
Careless storage of a firearm – CC sec. 86(1)
Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm – CC sec. 91(1)
Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm – CC sec. 95(a)
Possession of prohibited or restricted firearm/ammunition – CC sec. 95(b)
Conspiracy to commit and indictable offence – CC sec. 465(1)(c)
Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime – CC sec. 354(1)(a)
Traffick in Schedule 1 substance – CDSA sec. 5(1)
Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking – CDSA sec. 5(2) – three counts
Donte FRIVALT, age of 24 of Scarborough has been charged with:
Possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to a Prohibition Order – CC sec. 117.01(1)
Careless storage of a firearm – CC sec. 86(1)
Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm – CC sec. 91(1)
Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm – CC sec. 95(a)
Possession of prohibited or restricted firearm/ammunition – CC sec. 95(b)
Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime – CC sec. 354(1)(a)
Pos session of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking – CDSA sec. 5(2) – three counts
All accused persons have been remanded in custody with appearances scheduled before the Ontario Court of Justice in Belleville.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
