Police arrested 12 suspects in Northern and Southern Ontario and seized guns, cash and more than $2.7 million worth of narcotics, among other contraband, during a joint-forces operation known as Project Valiant.
Project Valiant was led by the Thunder Bay Police Service’s Intelligence Unit and included members of the OPP’s Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, the York Regional Police, Canada Border Services Agency, and was aided through funding provided by the Ontario Government – Criminal Intelligence Service of Ontario.
The project took place between August and December, 2020. On Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, results of this unique and successful joint-forces operation were revealed to the media and public during a virtual news conference at the TBPS headquarters at 1200 Balmoral Street.
Investigative efforts during Project Valiant led to a series of search warrant executions at various locations in Thunder Bay and a single major search warrant execution in Markham, Ont.
As a result of those search warrants, police seized a significant quantity of cocaine, fentanyl, fake oxycodone pills (fentanyl), hydromorphone, crack cocaine, numerous weapons and firearms, several motor vehicles, a significant quantity of Canadian currency and paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking.
Highlights from both Northern and Southern Ontario seizures follow:
- 11.9 Kilograms of fentanyl
- 1.55 Kilograms of cocaine (powder and crack)
- 4,089 pills – fentanyl/ fake oxycodone
- 846 packages of cannabis edibles (black market)
- 8 capsules of hydromorphone
Weapons Seized:
- 1 handgun
- 10 rifles
- 4 shotguns
- 1 crossbow
- 2 high-capacity magazines
- 2 Tasers
- Thousands of rounds of ammunition
Items Seized:
- 4 cars
- 1 Motorcycle
- $120,446 CAD
- Fake government identification
- Paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking
For more than five years the Thunder Bay Police Service and its partner agencies have witnessed a significant number of people from southern and eastern Ontario traveling to the Northwest region for the sole purpose of trafficking narcotics.
Many of these individuals are known to be violent, may be members or associates of gangs, and oftentimes are found to be in illegal possession of firearms.
The success of Project Valiant shows that police services can work beyond their borders via the continued partnerships of various law enforcement agencies. The Thunder Bay Police Service will continue to conduct joint-agency projects and investigations to continue disrupting the drug-trafficking trade in this city and its surrounding communities.
The following people were charged as a direct result of Project Valiant:
Dajshon STEWART, 26, of Toronto, is charged with:
- Possession of a Controlled substance for the Purpose of Trafficking x2 Section 5(2) CDSA (cocaine and fentanyl)
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5,000 Section 354(1)(a) CC
- Breach Recognizance Section 145(5)(a) CC
- Resist Arrest Section 129(a) CC
- Obstruct Peace Officer Section 129(a) CC
- Possession of Fraudulent Identity Document Section 56.1 CC
- Failure to Comply with Condition Entry Into Canada Section 58 Quarantine Act.
Jahzeigh STEPHENS, 29, of Mississauga, is charged with:
- Possession of a Controlled substance for the Purpose of Trafficking x2 Section 5(2) CDSA (cocaine and fentanyl)
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5,000 Section 354(1)(a) CC
Sydney EGEBERG, 20, of Thunder Bay, is charged with:
- Possession of a Controlled substance for the Purpose of Trafficking x2 Section 5(2) CDSA (cocaine and fentanyl)
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5,000 Section 354(1)(a) CC
Joseph BLAIR, 50, of Thunder Bay, is charged with:
- Possession of a Controlled substance for the Purpose of Trafficking x2 Section 5(2) CDSA (cocaine and fentanyl)
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5,000 Section 354(1)(a) CC
Shannon BLAIR, 42, of Thunder Bay, is charged with:
- Possession of a Controlled substance for the Purpose of Trafficking x2 Section 5(2) CDSA (cocaine and fentanyl)
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5,000 Section 354(1)(a) CC
Jonathan TRULIK, 56, of Thunder Bay, is charged with:
- Breach Conditional Sentence Order Section 742.6 CC
Shayn WILSON, 37, of Thunder Bay, is charged with:
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Section 5(2) CDSA (cocaine)
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime over $5,000 Section 354(1)(a) CC x 2
- Breach Recognizance Section 145(5)(a) CC x 3
- Impaired Operation of Motor Vehicle Section 320.14(1)(a) CC
- Failure or Refusal to Comply with Demand Section 320.15(1) CC
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking x2 Section 5(2) CDSA (cocaine and hydromorphone)
- Possession of Fraudulent Identity Document x2 Section 56.1 CC
- Unauthorized Possession of a Restricted Firearm Section 91(2) CC
- Possession of Prohibited Weapon x2 Section 92(2) CC (Tazers)
- Careless Storage of a Firearm x2 Section 86(1)
- Possession of Restricted Firearm with Ammunition Section 95(a) CC
- Possession of Restricted Firearm Knowing Unauthorized Section 92(2) CC
- Possession of Prohibited Device x2 Section 91(2) (high-capacity magazines)
- Tamper with Serial Number of a Firearm Section 108(1) CC
- Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order Section 117.01(1) CC
John WILSON, 62, of Thunder Bay, is charged with:
- Unauthorized Possession of a Restricted Firearm Section 91(2) CC
- Possession of Prohibited Weapon x2 Section 92(2) CC (Tasers)
- Careless Storage of a Firearm x2 Section 86(1)
- Possession of Restricted Firearm with Ammunition Section 95(a) CC
- Possession of Restricted Firearm Knowing Unauthorized Section 92(2) CC
- Possession of Prohibited Device x2 Section 91(2) (high capacity magazines)
- Tamper with Serial Number of a Firearm Section 108(1) CC
Akeem RICHARDS-CRAWFORD, 26, of Toronto, is charged with:
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Section 5(2) CDSA (fentanyl)
- Possession for the Purpose of Distribution Section 9(1) Cannabis Act
Patrick GRANVILLE, 25, of Toronto, is charged with:
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Section 5(2) CDSA (fentanyl)
- Possession for the Purpose of Distribution Section 9(1) Cannabis Act
Tyrique CAMPBELL, 23, of Toronto, is charged with:
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Section 5(2) CDSA (fentanyl)
- Possession for the Purpose of Distribution Section 9(1) Cannabis Act
Shawndel MILLER-WRIGHT, 20, of Brampton, Ont., is charged with:
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Section 5(2) CDSA (fentanyl)
- Possession for the Purpose of Distribution Section 9(1) Cannabis Act