(CORNWALL, ON) – Over the past 5 months the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit (PWEU) and its partners, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS), the Cornwall Community Police Service (CCPS), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service (AMPS) with the assistance of the Sûreté du Québec, conducted a joint forces investigation into the trafficking of firearms and cocaine in eastern Ontario.
Project HARDEN focused on the illegal gun trade, particularly handguns. The origin of several of these seized firearms has been traced back to the United States. That investigation continues.
On Wednesday, May 27, 2015 the investigative team conducted six (6) search warrants in Cornwall, Ottawa, South Glengarry Township, Akwesasne and Longueuil, Quebec. The culmination of these agencies efforts resulted in the seizure of:
· 6 prohibited hand guns
· Silencer
· 2 restricted handguns
· AK-47 assault rifle
· High capacity magazines
· Ammunition
· Cocaine AND Marihuana
On May 27, 2015, 8 people were arrested facing 107 charges including:
1. Pierre NASSIF, 39 years of South Glengarry, ON with:
1) Trafficking in a Schedule 1 Substance (CDSA) (Cocaine)
2) Possess Proceeds Obtained by Crime Over $5000 (CC)
3) Possess Weapon Dangerous to the Public Peace (CC) (Handgun)
4) Possess Firearm without Holding a Licence (CC) (Handgun)
5) Possess Firearm knowingly without Holding a Licence (CC) (Handgun)
6) Possess Unloaded Regulated Firearm (CC) (Handgun)
7) Possess Firearm Obtained by Crime (CC) (Handgun)
8) Knowingly Transfer a Firearm (CC)
9) Knowingly Transfer Ammunition (CC)
10) Possess Firearm with Altered Serial Number (CC)
11) Possess Proceeds Obtained by Crime over $5000 (CC)
12) Possess Firearm While Prohibited (CC) (Handgun)
13) Possess Ammunition While Prohibited (CC)
14) Unlicenced Person Possess Prohibited Device (CC) (Silencer)
15) Possess Prohibited Device Knowing no Authority (CC) (Silencer)
16) Possess Unloaded Regulated Firearm (CC) (Handgun)
17) Knowingly Transfer Prohibited Device (CC) (Silencer)
2. Devin LAZORE, 21 years of Akwesasne, ON with:
1) Possess Weapon Dangerous to the Public Peace (CC) (Handgun)
2) Possess Prohibited Device (CC) (High Capacity magazine)
3) Possess Firearm without Holding a Licence (CC) (Handgun)
4) Possess Firearm Obtained by Crime (CC) (Handgun)
5) Knowingly Transfer a Firearm (CC)
6) Knowingly Transfer Prohibited Device (CC) (Magazine)
7) Possess Firearm with Altered Serial Number (CC)
8) Occupy Motor Vehicle with Firearm (CC) (Handgun)
9) Possess Proceeds Obtained by Crime Under $5000 (CC)
10) Unlicenced Person Possess Prohibited Device (CC)
11) Offer to Transfer Firearm (CC) (Handgun)
Paul NASSIF, 36 years of Cornwall, ON with:
1) Breach of Probation (CC)
2) Traffic in a Schedule 1 Substance (CDSA) (Cocaine)
4. Masaed RASHED, 27 years of Ottawa, ON with:
1) Trafficking in a Schedule 1 Substance (CDSA) (Cocaine)
2) Possess Proceeds Obtained by Crime over $5000 (CC)
3) Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (CDSA) (Cocaine)
4) Breach of Recognizance (CC)
5. Hussein YASSIN, 40 Years of Cornwall, ON with:
1) Traffic in a Schedule 1 Substance (CDSA) (Cocaine)
6. Sean CARL, 25 Years of Cornwall, ON with:
1) Trafficking in a Schedule 2 Substance (CDSA) (Cocaine)
2) Possess Proceeds Obtained by Crime over $5000 (CC)
7. Francois BILLARD, 29 years of Cornwall, ON with:
1) Trafficking in a Schedule 2 Substance (CDSA) (Cocaine)
2) Possess Proceeds Obtained by Crime over $5000 (CC)
8. Sonia BERNIER, 32 years of Saint Hubert, QC with:
1) Possess Weapon Dangerous to the Public Peace (CC) (Handgun)
2) Possess Firearm without Holding a Licence (CC) (Handgun)
3) Possess Firearm knowingly without Holding a Licence (CC) (Handgun)
4) Occupy Motor Vehicle with Firearm (CC) (Handgun)
5) Possess Unloaded Regulated Firearm (CC) (Handgun)
6) Possess Firearm Obtained by Crime (CC) (Handgun)
7) Knowingly Transfer a Firearm (CC)
8) Possess Firearm with Altered Serial Number (CC)
9) Unlicenced Person Possess Prohibited Device (CC) (Silencer)
10) Possess Prohibited Device Knowing no Authority (CC) (Silencer)
11) Possess Unloaded Regulated Firearm (CC) (Handgun)
12) Knowingly Transfer Prohibited Device (CC) (Silencer)
Five (5) were held in custody to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice, Cornwall, today, May 28, 2015. BILLARD, CARL and YASSIN were released on a Promise to Appear to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice, Cornwall, in June 2015.
The police and agency partnership is this investigation exemplifies the 2014 mandate set by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne to assist “the police in their pursuit of measures to keep guns out of Ontario and get handguns off our streets. This issue requires engagement at all levels of government.”
Partnership and support from our provincial and municipal leaders is paramount to our continued success in fighting crime and reducing victimization by sharing resources and intelligence among stakeholders that help police in identifying, investigating and combating illegal activities.
