Chatham-Kent Police Service officials allege: Nine people are facing charges after Chatham-Kent police executed a search warrant at a King Street residence in Wallaceburg on Wednesday, uncovering a significant stash of drugs and an unusual array of weapons.
Members of the Chatham-Kent Police Service Intelligence Unit, backed by the Emergency Response Team, carried out the search on July 29 as part of an ongoing investigation into fentanyl trafficking in the community. Officers found and arrested nine people inside the home.
A search of the property turned up roughly 51 grams of fentanyl, about 27 grams of methamphetamine and nine oxycodone tablets, along with digital scales and drug packaging materials commonly associated with trafficking operations. Police also seized Canadian currency and cellphones.
Beyond the drugs, investigators recovered a notable weapons cache: seven BB guns, a firearm receiver, three compound bows, brass knuckles and various types of ammunition. Police estimate the seized drugs carry a street value of approximately $11,900.
All nine accused are from Wallaceburg and range in age from 28 to 49, including six men and three women. Each has been charged with three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking — covering fentanyl, methamphetamine and OxyContin — under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, as well as possession of a prohibited weapon under the Criminal Code.
Several of the accused face additional charges stemming from alleged breaches of existing court orders. A 44-year-old man is accused of violating conditions related to ammunition, a firearm part, and a crossbow, firearm and firearm part combined, with a separate charge involving another firearm part. A 32-year-old woman is charged with failing to comply with a release order concerning weapons and failing to comply with an undertaking involving a firearm, crossbow and weapons. A 29-year-old woman faces charges of failing to comply with probation and possessing prohibited items contrary to a court order, including a firearm, crossbow and firearm part. A 43-year-old man and a 49-year-old man are each accused of breaching probation conditions tied to weapons, with the 43-year-old also facing a charge related to a crossbow, firearm part and ammunition, and the 49-year-old also charged with failing to comply with a release order involving weapons.
All nine accused were held in custody pending bail hearings.
Chatham-Kent police said the operation reflects their continued focus on combating drug trafficking in the region. Fentanyl in particular remains a pressing concern for local law enforcement given the drug’s potency and the harm it has caused to individuals and families across the municipality.
Anyone with information about drug trafficking or related criminal activity is asked to contact the Chatham-Kent Police Service, or to reach out anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
