Lambton OPP say 30 people have been arrested and $141,000 in drugs has been seized following a roughly year-long investigation at Walpole Island First Nation.
Project McNulty, a multi-jurisdictional investigation, was launched in response to a spike in opioid deaths at Walpole Island in July of last year. A state of emergency was declared at the time.
On Tuesday morning, OPP, Walpole Island police and Chatham-Kent police held a media briefing from the OPP detachment in Petrolia.
Representatives from the Ontario Provincial Police, Chatham-Kent Police Service and Walpole Island Police Service are speaking at a media conference to address the conclusion of Project McNulty, a multi-jurisdictional drug investigation. https://t.co/PjosstPUjq
— OPP West Region (@OPP_WR) October 11, 2022
Detachment Commander Inspector Chris Avery said the successful enforcement resulted in a number of charges and the seizure of large quantities of drugs, weapons and dollar amounts.
"However, when I reviewed the statistics the most important things I see pertain to a 50 per cent reduction in drug overdose deaths and a 57 per cent reduction in ambulance assistance calls, which often include non-fatal drug overdose calls, all in the community of Walpole Island."
On September 29, police executed numerous search warrants on Walpole Island, Wallaceburg and Chatham Kent, resulting in the seizure of controlled substances and weapons. Police laid 149 charges, recovered over $190,000 in stolen property and also seized $11,000 in cash and 13 weapons during the investigation.
Avery said the investigation helped combat the illicit drug trade and property crimes throughout the community.
"We see them as being interrelated but the seriousness is the loss of life that goes along with the opioid deaths. So, the traffickers that we have been successful in targeting supply not only Walpole Island but they do supply the rest of Lambton County and Chatham-Kent."
OPP West Region Acting Superintendent Shawn Johnson said efforts to combat dangerous illicit drug trade in these areas are not over and there is much work ahead.
"However, it is important that we acknowledge that by working together this investigation struck a real blow to those individuals who distribute highly addictive and dangerous drugs to vulnerable members of our community."
