METH CRACKDOWN IN HAWKESBURY

Ontario Provincial Police trumpeted a major methamphetamine bust east
of Ottawa on Thursday, but couldn't say what long-term effects it
would have on the flow of drugs to the Hawkesbury area.

Police have made 14 arrests and are seeking another seven people,
after an 11-month undercover operation that they said targeted
mid-level drug dealers. They expect to lay 148 charges.

Police seized 2,506 tablets of methamphetamine, 183 tablets of
oxycodone and $11,350 in cash over the course of "Project Dover," as
well as cocaine, marijuana, steroids, illegal tobacco, a shotgun and
a one-kilogram brick of hash.

"It became evident that the town of Hawkesbury was saturated with
methamphetamines and other illicit drugs, such as cocaine and various
opiates," said Det. Insp. Bryan Martin at a morning press conference.

Hawkesbury Mayor Jeanne Charlebois attended the press conference.
Asked point-blank if Hawkesbury has a drug problem, she bristled.

"No, no, no, no," she said, adding she had yet to stumble across drug
users in the street.

She noted that a number of people charged are Quebec residents and
asked that OPP work with Quebec law enforcement to "stomp out" any
drug sales in Hawkesbury, which is connected to the Quebec side of
the Ottawa River by a bridge.

"I know that you will not be able to eradicate it," Charlebois said
to the police, "but I appreciate what you've done."

Project Dover targeted mid-level traffickers, local operators who
allegedly funnelled drugs into the Hawkesbury and Alexandria areas to
supply street dealers with drugs in bulk. The operation did not
uncover any meth labs, however, leaving top dealers and manufacturers
free to restaff the now-vacant positions.

"They're like cockroaches," Martin said of the mid-level dealers.
"One comes in, one comes out."

He insisted Project Dover had "a significant impact" on Hawkesbury,
but he could not say how long it might be until a new crop of dealers
begins working the town.

"The bottom line is the dollar," he said. "If you're in an area where
you know there's a demand for a certain type of drugs, that's what
you'll peddle."

OPP say methamphetamine pills retail for $8 to $15 on the street.
Dealers can buy them in bulk for under $5 a pill.

Police also seized oxycodone, a powerful opiate used as a
prescription painkiller. Meant to dissolve gradually in the user's
stomach, some often crush the pills into a fine powder and snort
them, creating a more immediate and intense high.

"Oxycodone is becoming more of a street drug," Martin said. "We're
seeing it turn up at many of our warrants now."

The opiate has a street value of 50 cents a milligram, meaning a pill
containing 80 milligrams of oxycodone can sell for $40.

Martin said young people were being targeted by dealers, pointing to
pills printed with "alluring" images like IGA and Couche-Tard logos,
fleurs-de-lis, and even Stars of David. But he said people of all
ages were habitual customers.

"Over the past five years we've seen a dramatic increase in
methamphetamine," Martin said.

A previous investigation code named "Speedway" confirmed the problem,
police said, prompting Project Dover: undercover members of the OPP's
drug enforcement section infiltrated Hawkesbury's drug scene "with
relative ease," Martin said, making drug buys at all levels of trafficking.

"The intelligence gathered in this investigation may result in
further investigations within the province," Martin said.

The drugs come from all over Ontario and Quebec, Martin said, and
from rural and urban settings.

Those arrested in the last two days are: [redacted]

Police have warrants for: [redacted]

An unidentified Hawkesbury youth is also wanted.

They face charges relating to trafficking, drug possession, and/or
possession of property obtained by crime. [redacted] also faces two
firearms charges.