Over $152,000 in illegal drugs, a loaded handgun, and over $30,000 in Canadian currency are off the streets following a coordinated bust in Sioux Lookout.
"Project Dogwood" has resulted in multiple arrests and dozens of charges in Sioux Lookout as OPP officers executed five Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrants in the municipality between August 18, 2022, and 19, 2022.
This investigation resulted in the arrest of five people and the seizure of suspected illicit substances with a street value of over $152,000, including cocaine and methamphetamine. A loaded handgun and over $30,000 in Canadian currency were also seized.
Joel Edwards, 29 years-old, of Barrie, Ontario, Maikela Young, 19 years-old, of Whitby, Ontario and Russia Reyes, 40 years-old, of Sioux Lookout, Ontario, have each been arrested and charged with:
- Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the purpose of trafficking
- Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Careless storage of firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
- Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm
- Knowledge of unauthorized possession of firearm
- Possession of a prohibited device or ammunition
- Occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was a prohibited or restricted weapon
- Possession of loaded prohibited or restricted firearm
Quirino "John John" Agustin, 43 years-old, and Johnathan Tompkins, 28 years-old, both of Sioux Lookout, Ontario, have been arrested and charged with:
- Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the purpose of trafficking
All five accused have been remanded into custody and are scheduled to next appear before the Ontario Court of Justice - Kenora Regional Bail Court on Monday, August 22, 2022.
The investigation was led by members of the Ontario Provincial Police's (OPP) Sioux Lookout and Dryden Community Street Crime Units (CSCU), the OPP's Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, Nishnawbe Aski Police Service and Treaty Three Police Service. Assisting in this investigation were members of the Sioux Lookout OPP Detachment, CSCU Kenora, CSCU Red Lake, the OPP Emergency Response Team and an OPP Canine Unit.