Three city residents have been charged after Brantford Police Service, working with the Hamilton-Niagara detachment of the RCMP, uncovered 6.3 kilograms of cocaine and $2 million in Canadian currency.
Police say the drugs have a street value of about $170,000. A number of electronic communications devices were also seized after search warrants were executed at five locations.
Three Brantford residents, including a 36-year-old, a 24-year-old and a 23-year-old, have been charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. They are scheduled to appear in Brantford court on Dec. 19.
“This is another successful joint project helping to minimize the threat to our communities caused by the distribution of controlled substances, and organized criminal activity related to drug trafficking,” said Jason Saunders, interim chief of Brantford Police Service. “By disrupting the operation of criminal networks, our goal is to assist our community by reducing the violence surrounding the trade of illicit substances.
“In support of the search warrants and arrests related to this project, the Brantford Police Service would like to recognize the Criminal Intelligence Service of Ontario for their continued funding and dedication in keeping communities safe in Ontario.”
Saunders also thanked the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, Canada’s financial intelligence unit.
“Disclosures from the centre helped uncover evidence of alleged money laundering and proceeds of crime by tracing financial transactions and identifying patterns,” he said.
RCMP Insp. Vance Morgan said “drug trafficking has widespread and devastating effects on multiple levels.”
“At its core, it contributes to violence and undermines public health with increased addiction rates and overdoses. Thanks to the Brantford Police Service and all of our partner agencies for the excellent collaboration which resulted in more than six kilograms of cocaine taken off of our streets.”