Barrie police crack down on organized crime, over 60 criminal charges laid in months-long investigation

Barrie police executed 11 search warrants to crack down on organized crime.

A four-month investigation into illegal firearms and drug activity in the city of Barrie resulted in the arrests of more than a dozen people and over 60 criminal charges laid.

Barrie police say its teams executed 11 search warrants between February and mid-June as part of the investigation to crack down organized criminal activity.

In all, officers made 13 arrests and laid 64 charges.

Additionally, police seized five firearms, large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, MDMA, and oxycodone, as well as nearly $50,000 in Canadian currency.

“In recent years, officers have seen an increase in incidents involving firearms prompting a coordinated and strategic response,” the Barrie Police Service stated in a news release issued Friday.

The operation was carried out by a combined effort from the Drug Enforcement Unit, Community Safety and Well-Being Unit, and Tactical Support Unit.

The identities of those accused was not disclosed.