(Windsor, Ontario – July 29th, 2016) –A 2 year joint investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) into the importation and trafficking of cocaine was concluded yesterday which resulted in arrests of individuals from the Leamington area. These individuals were involved in the importation and subsequent distribution of cocaine.
The evidence gathered revealed a criminal group moving large amounts of cocaine from Mexico into Canada. During the course of the investigation, police seized over two kilograms of cocaine as well as identified sophisticated concealment methods which enabled the cocaine shipments to cross international borders undetected.
On Thursday, July 28th, the RCMP along with members of CBSA, Essex County OPP, and Chatham-Kent Police Service executed several search warrants in the Leamington area. This same day, a search warrant was executed by the RCMP in the Province of Manitoba related to this matter. The following persons have been charged with various crimes related to the conspiracy, importation, and trafficking of cocaine under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Charged are:
· Name: Daniel TIESSEN, age 48, of Leamington, Ontario
Charges: Conspiracy to Traffick Cocaine, Conspiracy to Kidnap
· Name: Jacob THIESSEN, age 29, Leamington, Ontario
Charges: Conspiracy to Traffick Cocaine, Conspiracy to Kidnap
· Name: Jay SHANKS, age 56, of Leamington, Ontario
Charges: Conspiracy to Kidnap
Inspector Kevin KEANE, of the Windsor Detachment RCMP stated, “The inter-operability of police agencies is fundamental to community safety. The RCMP is determined to reduce the total harmful effects caused by organized crime by disrupting the supplies of illicit drugs. The result of this investigation demonstrates how the RCMP and its partner agencies work effectively together to keep illicit drugs out of our communities.
The RCMP would like to express appreciation to the partner law enforcement agencies of Canada Border Services Agency