Police say 20 people are facing more than 700 criminal charges following a multi-jurisdictional drug-trafficking investigation in and around the city of Cornwall, Ont. On Wednesday, police from six municipal forces and five Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) units executed multiple search warrants, which resulted in the seizure of 35 firearms and more than $2 million in drugs. Police say they arrested 15 people and issued arrest warrants for five others. “This investigation is a testament to what can be achieved when agencies work together with a shared purpose,” Mike Stoddart, OPP’s chief superintendent of the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, said in a statement. “By combining intelligence, resources and expertise, we’ve disrupted criminal networks and made the communities we serve safer. The impact of this collaboration will be felt far beyond Cornwall, and the OPP remains committed to continuing this vital work alongside our partners.” Cornwall police say they launched Project FESTER with OPP in 2024 to investigate an alleged drug and firearm trafficking network within the City of Cornwall. According to police, the investigation expanded to include several jurisdictions and involved Canada Border Services Agency, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as Homeland Security Investigations. “Project FESTER has removed more than $2 million in illegal drugs and firearms from our streets, one of the largest and most complex investigations in the history of the Cornwall Police Service, led in partnership with the OPP’s Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit and members of the Border Enforcement Security Task Force,” Cornwall police chief Shawna Spowart said in a statement. “The Cornwall Police Service remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting our community by actively targeting organized crime groups involved in the trafficking of firearms and illicit drugs,” Spowart said. “We will continue to disrupt and dismantle organized criminal activity to prevent our city from being exploited. Our priority is, and always will be, ensuring a safer Cornwall for all.” Police say they identified two criminal networks, one allegedly trafficking illicit substances in Cornwall, and the other allegedly trafficking firearms in Ottawa and Akwesasne. Police say they seized the following:
