Big bust

A six-month undercover investigation has led to 153 drug-related charges being laid against 37 people in the Dryden, Sioux Lookout and Ignace areas.

More than 80 officers from several police regional police services swept in early Thursday morning and executed six search warrants.

During the course of the six-month investigation, labelled Project Ghost, police bought or seized 185 grams of cocaine, 14 pounds of marijuana and 2,121 Oxycotin tablets worth an estimated $245,000.

"Officers also seized $55,000 in Canadian currency and several vehicles and offender-related property worth approximately $70,000," said OPP Supt. Ron Van Straalen, who made the announcement at a Friday morning news conference in Dryden.

It was mostly smaller home-based drug operations that were shut down in the multiple busts, he added.

"There’s always organized crime involved, but I can say in this situation there a lot of the people involved are mom-and-pop individuals, often supplementing their income with the sale of, unfortunately, these pills," Van Straalen said.

"It’s a tragic reality in society today that some of these folks have access – rightfully so – to these pills. But then they see the benefit of trying to sell them off-market for significant financial gain."

According to a 2009 article in the Toronto Star, Oxycotin, also known as hillbilly heroin, is worth $4 at a pharmacy, but on the streets can fetch as much as $45, depending on the strength of the pill.

Prices skyrocket from there on northern reserves, where supply and demand favour the supplier.
Van Straalen said the enormity of the bust should make a sizable impact in the region’s drug trade, and reduce stress on police services throughout the region.

"It was a multitude of drugs that were taken off the street and we do know that it has had an effect," he said. "We’ll have to see the long-term benefits of this, but it is already having an effect in the northern communities," Van Straalen said, admitting it’s only a short-term solution.

"I’d be a fool to say that (drugs) are done, it’s over. There’s no such thing. But we will see a significant impact for the time being."

The investigation is by no means over, he added.

"This is just, in my opinion, a start."

Police involved included Dryden Police and Treaty 3 police services, the RCMP, Nisnawke Aski Police Service and Anishnawbek Police Service.