BRANTFORD — Brantford and Guelph Police worked together on a special project that seized a slew of drugs, firearms, other weapons, and saw 6 people arrested.
Police said it was a two month investigation, dubbed Project Challenger, involving suspected drug dealers trafficking cocaine and fentanyl within Southern Ontario.
On August 11, search warrants were executed at residences on Osborn Avenue and Henrietta Street in Brantford as well as two vehicle searches and a home in Brant County on Jenkins Road.
In total, 6 people were arrested and over $213,000 in illicit drugs was seized.
The residence at Osborne Avenue resulted in the seizure of:
- 1,257 grams (approx.) of suspected Cocaine with an estimated street value of $125,768
- 297 grams (approx.) of suspected Crystal Methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $44,600
- 693 grams (approx.) of suspected Psilocybin, with an estimated street value of $6,936
- Canadian currency
Search Warrants were executed on two vehicles. Inside one of the vehicles police located:
- 125 grams (approx.) of suspected Cocaine, with an estimated street value of $12,500.
The search at Henrietta Street in Brantford resulted in the seizure of:
- 35 grams (approx.) of suspected Fentanyl, with an estimated street value of $8,700
- 152 grams (approx.) of suspected Cocaine, with an estimated street value of $15,200
- Canadian currency
OPP searched the property on Jenkins Road, Brant County and seized
- 23 firearms, all long guns
- 3 cross bows
- 3 compound bows
- Stolen vehicles (a trailer, ride-on lawnmower, and pick-up truck; all previously reported as stolen)
The following individuals were arrested:
Stephanie Marshall, 30, of Brantford, stands charged with:
- Possession for the purpose to traffic, to wit: Cocaine
- Possession for the purpose to traffic, to wit: Crystal Methamphetamine
- Possession for the purpose to traffic, to wit: Psilocybin
Kyle Dasilva, 30, of Brantford, stands charged with:
- Possession for the purpose to traffic, to wit: Cocaine
- Possession for the purpose to traffic, to wit: Crystal Methamphetamine
- Possession for the purpose to traffic, to wit: Psilocybin
Sarah Marshall, 30, of Brantford, stands charged with:
- Possession for the purpose to traffic, to wit: Cocaine
Odinga Sam, 31, of Toronto, stands charged with:
- Possession for the purpose to traffic, to wit: Fentanyl,
Jessica Higgins, 23, of Brantford, stands charged with:
- Possession for the purpose to traffic, to wit: Fentanyl, and
Steven Sault, 32, of Brant County, stands charged with a number of Criminal Code offences related to several break and enters, possession of stolen property, and multiple firearms related violations.
In a statement police said, “Project Challenger is another successful joint project helping to minimize the threat to our communities caused by the distribution of controlled substances, including firearms. By disrupting the operation of criminal networks, our goal is to assist our communities by reducing the violence surrounding the trade of illicit substances.”
“The success of this operation can be attributed to the outstanding collaboration of policing partners and agencies, Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario, Brantford Police Services, Ontario Provincial Police, and Guelph Police Service. Removing firearms and illicit drugs from our streets helps to also reduce the violence surrounding the trade of these substances, further improving community safety,” stated Chief Rob Davis, Brantford Police Services.
