Niagara Falls man charged in cross-border drug trafficking case

A Niagara Falls resident has been charged and another suspect is wanted in connection with a suspected cross-border drug trafficking network.

An investigation was launched in February after police organizations across the province received information about a number of individuals involved in alleged drug trafficking, including the exportation of illegal cannabis and suspected cocaine.

Ontario Provincial Police, the Canada Border Services Agency, the Border Enforcement Security Task Force, and several local police forces pooled information to track down suspects they believed to have been involved.

In May, two search warrants were carried out at the Port of Montreal, where more than 130 kilograms of drugs with an estimated value of $630,000 were uncovered.

READ MORE: Halton police lay nearly 80 charges in drug, firearm trafficking investigation

Police say seven additional searches were completed last month in Niagara Falls, Oakville, Brampton and Kitchener, which resulted in the identification of two suspects.

Thirty-seven-year-old Darki Tambur of Niagara Falls, and 53-year-old Damir Dedic of Kitchener, are both facing substance trafficking, importing and exporting charges.

Tambur has been taken into custody, and an arrest warrant has been issued for Dedic.

“We will continue to investigate any person or group involved in criminal activity with a connection to our borders, and beyond,” an OPP detective said in a statement.

Anyone with information about suspicious cross-border activity is being asked to contact the CBSA Border Watch Line at 1-888-502-9060.

READ MORE: Thorold man charged after police seize handgun, over $43K in drugs