NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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Following a $3 million drug seizure in the City of Vaughan in August 2018, additional bags of an unidentified white powdered substances were submitted to Health Canada for analysis.
All of the powders had different appearances, textures and colours and investigators believed initially that it may have been cocaine. The results from Health Canada revealed that the bags all contain fentanyl, totalling 1.2 kilograms. This has been the largest fentanyl seizure to date in York Region.
In July, 2018 an investigation began into residents of the City of Vaughan who were believed to be involved in trafficking drugs.
On Thursday, August 2, 2018, investigators arrested a suspect out front of a residence located on Zenith Avenue. The suspect was found to be in possession of more than three kilograms of cocaine.
A search warrant was executed at the residence and investigators found more than 18 kilograms of cocaine worth more than $1.5 million, three kilograms of marihuana, 1.5 kilograms of heroin, 700 ecstasy pills, a kilogram of methamphetamine, 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl and more than five litres of liquid ketamine. Investigators also seized cocaine presses, logo plates and packaging materials. The estimated value of this seizure was more than $3 million.
Charged:
- Lee Nguyen, 26, City of Toronto
- Dat Nguyen, 25, City of Vaughan
- Anne Lu, 32, City of Vaughan
Charges Include:
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking
- Production of a Controlled Substance
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime
York Regional Police continues to warn the public about the dangers associated with the recreational use of illegal drugs, especially fentanyl, due to the significant risks associated with this drug.
Fentanyl is an opioid-based pain killer roughly 100 times stronger than morphine. Recreational drug users should be aware that fentanyl can have many different appearances and can be laced into other drugs.
Fentanyl is extremely potent and there is no way for a user to determine the concentration of the substance. Numerous deaths from fentanyl overdoses have occurred across North America. We urge citizens to be cautious and only use fentanyl as prescribed by a medical doctor.
A video of the seizures is available for viewing at viewing at the following link
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the #4 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7441, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips, leave an anonymous tip online.
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