Peel police arrest 10, lay 80 charges in sweeping drug trafficking probe

Ten people are facing a total of 80 charges after a multi-jurisdictional investigation into drug trafficking in Ontario.

Peel regional police say they worked with 13 other forces on the eight-month-long investigation, which focused on criminal activity in their home region, the GTA and parts of southwestern Ontario.

They say the investigation focused on alleged activities such as drug importation as well as trafficking in drugs and stolen property.

Police say the people arrested had ties to foreign countries including the United States and Pakistan. They range in age from 28- to 71-years-old.

They say investigators searched eight properties as part of the investigation and recovered drugs, cash, and cargo stolen from tractor trailers.

The ten suspects are facing a wide variety of charges including trafficking opioids, trafficking in stolen goods and fraud over $5,000.

A 63-year-old Kitchener man was one of the 10 people arrested and faces three charges: importation of heroin, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and driving while disqualified.