Seven Charged in Ontario Drug-Trafficking Probe

Seven individuals face multiple charges following a drug-trafficking investigation that spanned from the Toronto area to Napanee, Ontario, where police seized significant quantities of illicit drugs, a loaded handgun and proceeds of crime.

The Ontario Provincial Police, along with Durham Regional Police, executed search warrants on Thursday at residences on Dundas Street in Napanee and Mount Pleasant Avenue in Whitby. The operation stemmed from a monthlong probe by the OPP's East Region Community Street Crime Unit, with assistance from the Durham Region Police Tactical Unit. Officers recovered just over one kilogram of suspected cocaine, 16 grams of suspected fentanyl and nearly 50 Percocet tablets during the searches. Additional items included a fully loaded handgun with ammunition, approximately $20,000 in mixed Canadian and U.S. currency, about $40,000 in jewelry believed to be stolen and various drug-trafficking tools such as scales and cellphones.

The seven suspects, aged 24 to 55, were arrested at the scenes and now face a combined 54 charges related to drug possession for trafficking, firearms offences and conspiracy. Jermain Simmonds, 33, and Karen Mills, 35, both from...