The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-led Organized Crime Towing Industry Project (OCTIP) has seized several varieties of opioids and other drugs and laid drug trafficking charges.
This investigation began in October 2022 as a result of drug trafficking in the Mississauga area, believed to be connected to a towing operation. The OPP-led OCTIP, consisting of members from the OPP, Peel Regional Police, Toronto Police Service, Durham Regional Police Service, York Regional Police and Barrie Police Service, executed a warrant on November 3, 2022, at a residence in Mississauga as well as the accused’s tow truck.
As a result of the search warrants, police seized a significant quantity of suspected controlled substances, including approximately 75 LSD tablets, 670 codeine tablets, 390 oxycodone tablets, 10 morphine tablets, 6 grams of methamphetamine, 30 grams of cannabis, 25 cannabis edibles as well as 9 grams of psilocybin and 360 psilocybin tablets. Additionally, more than 500 tablets suspected to be a variety of other opioids were also seized. The approximate street-value of the substances seized is $25,000.
Yousif AL-AWAD, age 24 from Mississauga has been arrested and charged with the following 18 offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), Cannabis Act (CA) and the Criminal Code (CC):
· Possession of Controlled Substance Schedule I (Opioid) for the purpose of trafficking – CDSA section 5(2) x12
· Possession of Controlled Substance Schedule I (Methamphetamine) for the purpose of trafficking – CDSA section 5(2)
· Possession of Controlled Substance Schedule I (Heroin) for the purpose of trafficking – CDSA section 5(2)
· Possession of Controlled Substance Schedule I (Other Drugs) for the purpose of trafficking – CDSA section 5(2)
· Possession for the Purpose of Distributing -CA section 9(2)
· Possessing Cannabis for the Purpose of Selling – CA section 10(2)
The accused was held in custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Mississauga at a later date.
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OCTIP is an OPP-led joint forces operation (JFO), which includes municipal policing partners. The JFO is mandated to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal networks operating high-level criminal/fraud activities in the towing industry and leads proactive criminal investigations.
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
