The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Owen Sound Police Service (OSPS) have teamed up in conducting a joint force investigation which has led to the arrest of seven area individuals and a total of 69 criminal charges laid. It has also resulted in the seizure of five firearms, a large amount of cocaine, other illicit drugs, and a very large amount of Canadian currency.

The investigation which has been conducted over the past few months successfully ended on Wednesday evening. Teams from the OPP, Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU), the OPP Emergency Response Team (ERT), the OPP Regional Support Team (RST), the OSPS Drug Enforcement Unit, OSPS Criminal Investigations Branch and the OSPS Community Oriented Response and Enforcement (CORE) Unit, conducted several raids in the city of Owen Sound and the surrounding area.

Approximately 45 officers from the OPP and OSPS were involved in the arrest of the seven accused, the search of three vehicles, four residences within the city and two residences in Georgian Bluffs. The search warrants resulted in the seizure of a loaded 9mm handgun, a 9mm automatic rifle, a 12-gauge short-barrelled pistol grip shotgun, a .38 calibre revolver, a large amount of ammunition, three prohibited weapons, a large amount of cocaine, other illicit drugs and cash proceeds. The combined street value of the drugs and cash proceeds seized from Wednesday’s search warrants are estimated to be approximately $65,000.

OSPS Chief Ambrose advises “Getting these guns and drugs off the streets of Owen Sound represents another significant step in ensuring community safety remains our key priority. This investigation is another example of the close working relationship our Service enjoys with the OPP and our other Grey-Bruce policing partners.”

Investigators from the OPP and the OSPS conducted another search warrant on Friday (December 3 rd ) afternoon on a residence in the Town of Southampton. This search resulted in locating another loaded 9mm handgun along with a substantial amount of Canadian currency (amount yet to be determined).

This investigation has revealed that this local drug organization had hundreds of area costumers buying their drugs making this very profitable illegal operation. Police have laid several criminal charges under the Controlled Drug and Substance Act for the selling of illicit drugs to members of our community. As well, these parties have been charged under the Criminal Code for participating in the activities of a criminal organization and several weapon related charges have been laid in relation to the firearms and prohibited weapons located in their possession.

Arrested and charged are 25-year-old Moustafa Mohamed, 25-year-old Alexander Barber, 23-year-old Andrew Barber, 58-year-old Randal Palmer, 26-year-old Dylan Raynham, 45-year-old Kelly Wootton and 21-year-old Tristan Fonger, all currently of Owen Sound.

All accused were held in custody and appeared Thursday morning at the Owen Sound Provincial Court of Justice at which time they were remanded. They appear next in court on Monday December 6 th . The well-organized police operation resulted in the safe apprehension of all suspects with no injuries sustained to those involved.

Photographs were taken by the investigating officers displaying some of the seized weapons and illicit drugs.

source: media release, OSPS