Drug Bust: Anna CIRILLO & Beau MERKEL

During the summer of 2025, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) detectives assigned to 2 District (Niagara Falls/Niagara-on-the-Lake) Street Crime Unit (SCU) commenced an investigation into the trafficking of controlled substances in the City of Niagara Falls.

On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, detectives received judicial authorization to execute a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant at a residential address in Niagara Falls.

As a result of the investigation police arrested two individuals and seized the following:

• 111.6 grams of fentanyl
• 198 pills of hydromorphone 
• 14.5 grams of cocaine
• A conducted energy weapon
• Nunchaku
• $1380 of Canadian currency
• $360 of United States currency

Anna CIRILLO (45 years) of Niagara Falls has been arrested and charged with the following criminal offences:

• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon (2 counts)
• Possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking (2 counts)
• Possession of Hydromorphone for the purpose of trafficking
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000 (2 counts)

Beau MERKEL (47 years) of Niagara Falls has been arrested and charged with the following criminal offences:

• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon (2 counts)
• Possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking (2 counts)
• Possession of Hydromorphone for the purpose of trafficking
• Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000 (2 counts)

CIRILLO and MERKEL were held in custody for a bail hearing, which is set to take place on Thursday, August 21, 2025, via video link to the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse located at 59 Church Street, in the City of St. Catharines.

In addition, two other individuals were arrested on outstanding warrants with the Niagara Regional Police Service.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact detectives at 905-688-4111, dial option #3, extension #1009667.

Members of the community who wish to provide information anonymously are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).  Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to people who contact the program with information that leads to an arrest.

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