Police bust in Brampton, Ont., reveals drug trafficking operation in Niagara

Police have seized a large quantity of controlled substances as well as five firearms following an investigation into suspected drug trafficking in the Niagara region.

According to officials, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Niagara Regional Police joined forces in April once the alleged trafficking became known.

“Investigators were able to identify a drug trafficking network that stemmed into the GTA, responsible for trafficking suspected cocaine and fentanyl as well as other illegal drugs,” OPP said in a release.

Last month, officers carried out numerous search warrants in Brampton, where they seized:

• Four handguns
• One shotgun
• Approximately 2.7 kilograms of suspected fentanyl
• Approximately 1.2 kilograms of suspected cocaine
• Approximately 330 grams of suspected MDMA
• Approximately 11 grams of suspected methamphetamine
• 113 suspected oxycodone tablets
• 50 suspected hydromorphone tablets
• More than 845 rounds of ammunition
• A prohibited magazine
• More than $316,000 in Canadian currency

Two individuals, 29-year-old Michael Navarro, and 32-year-old Kathy Ann Samuels, have been arrested. Navarro faces a total of 27 charges, while Samuels faces two.

Anyone with any information about illegal firearms or the possession, manufacturing or trafficking of illegal drugs should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

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