$10M in drugs seized, local men accused in trafficking ring operating out of Pearson Airport

Kitchener man accused in RCMP drug bust From CTV Kitchener's Natalie van Rooy: A Kitchener man working for Sunwing Airlines is one of almost a dozen people charged.

The RCMP have seized $10 million worth of drugs and arrested 11 people as part of an 18-month investigation into a drug trafficking ring operating out of Pearson Airport.

The group is accused of importing fentanyl, heroin, meth, cocaine and other drugs on Sunwing planes and sending them to markets in southwestern Ontario and the GTA.

Police say they discovered the operation during an investigation into fentanyl dealers in Kitchener and Brantford.

Officers conducted a series of raids this week in Kitchener, Brantford, Hamilton, Toronto and Durham.

Andrej Krawczyk, a 40-year-old from Kitchener, was one of two men who worked for Sunwing.

He was arrested near Pearson Airport but neighbours say RCMP officers showed up at his Perkell Place home on Thursday. That’s where they seized a handgun and brass knuckles.

Krawczyk has been charged with importing, trafficking and conspiracy to import cocaine, as well as possession the proceeds of crime.

Another local man, 39-year-old Tim Adam Lodge of Brantford, has also been charged.

He was arrested Wednesday on Brier Park Road moments after a drug deal. According to police, a Hamilton woman was leaving the home with 4 kilograms of fentanyl. Neighbours say that’s when 20 officers and RCMP vehicles made their move.

“I saw all these guys in a green uniforms marching, going down my sidewalk with big guns,” says Jenny Neade.

Two men were arrested, and one of them was Lodge.

He’s been charged with trafficking cocaine, fentanyl and carfentanil, as well as possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking, and possessing the proceeds of crime.

The woman who was leaving the Brier Park Road home was also arrested.

Brittany Michelle Crozier, a 22-year-old woman from Hamilton, is charged with trafficking fentanyl.

Witnesses say investigators searched the property, and at least one vehicle, for several hours.

RCMP found 5 kilograms of fentanyl, $100,000 in cash and body armor at the home.

Brantford mayor Kevin Davis commented on the arrests, saying in a statement: “This sweep shows that the opioid crisis stretches far beyond our city’s boundaries. I’m grateful to all of the law enforcement officials involved in helping bring traffickers of fentanyl and carfentanil to justice.”

The other members of the group facing charges include: Derrick Isreal Shand, 42 of Hamilton; Verlon Winston Peters, 36 of Etobicoke; Courtenay Elizabeth Doolittle, 22 of Hamilton; a 46-year-old from Mississauga; Jehan Carvalho, 33 of Toronto; Michael Brutto, 29 of Toronto; Clint McInnes, 49 of Ajax; and Jameal McInnes, 20 of Ajax.

A total of 10 kilograms of fentanyl, 1.3 kilograms of heroin, 1 kilogram of meth, 30 kilograms of marijuana, and smaller amounts of carfentanil and cocaine were seized.

“These drugs would have been diluted significantly,” say RCMP. “Meaning a much higher drug volume would have been distributed to the streets.”

The purity of the drugs has been described as “substantially high”, with the meth testing as 99% pure.

“It’s a significant producer if they’re able to produce that quality of product.”

All the drugs came from Caribbean countries including Jamaica, Costa Rica and Aruba.

“The targets, having other associates in those countries, would be able to facilitate putting cocaine on the planes,” says Staff Sgt. Blair Fuhrman of the Kitchener RCMP detachment.

Police also recovered a total of $400,000 in cash and $170,000 worth of vehicles.

The investigation, dubbed "oWoodcraft", involved undercover officers attempting to purchase nine kilograms of fentanyl and other drugs.

The RCMP say no drugs were successfully imported on Sunwing planes during the operation but based on their investigation it had happened in the past.

In a statement, Sunwing said: “We can confirm that we have been working closely with RCMP during this investigation.  The safety and security of both our employees and our customers remains our main priority and we have offered our full cooperation to the RCMP to ensure that this matter was brought to a successful conclusion. Given that the investigation is ongoing, we are not in a position to make additional comments at this time.”

This is the largest fentanyl bust in the history of Canadian undercover operations.