(WEST NIPISSING, ON)- The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) in partnership with the West Nipissing Police Service has concluded a three month investigation into a group of individuals distributing large quantities of cocaine in the Municipality of West Nipissing, Ontario.
At the conclusion of the investigation, dubbed Project Renmark, three search warrants were executed.
A substantial amount of suspected cocaine, several thousand suspected methamphetamine tablets, suspected marihuana, suspected psilocybin, suspected oxycodone tablets, suspected Demerol tablets, two cocaine presses and a large quantity of cash was seized during the investigation along with a stolen snowmobile. The street value of the drugs seized is approximately $280,000.
As a result of the investigation, the following people have been charged:
Jesse ALLEN, age 35 of Sturgeon Falls, Ontario
Conspiracy to Traffic in a Scheduled 1 Substance contrary to section 465 (1) of the Criminal Code (CC),
Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purposes of Trafficking contrary to section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), and
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime contrary to section 354(1) of the CC
He has been remanded into custody pending a bail hearing.
Gilles LEPAGE, age 61 of Field, Ontario
Conspiracy to Traffic in a Schedule 1 Substance contrary to section 465(1) of the CC,
Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purposes of Trafficking contrary to section 5 (2) of the CDSA – 3 Counts,
Possession of a Controlled Substance contrary to section 4(1) of the CDSA – 2 Counts, and
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime contrary to section 354(1) of the CC.
He has been remanded in custody pending a bail hearing.
Eric LACASSE, age 41 of Saint-Colomban, Quebec
Trafficking in a Scheduled 1 Substance contrary to section 5(1) of the CDSA,
Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purposes of Trafficking contrary to section 5(2) of the CDSA, and
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime contrary to section 354(1) of the CC.
He has been remanded in custody pending a bail hearing
The investigation is continuing.