Hamilton police have charged 12 people, including one physician from Toronto, after a two-year drug investigation lead to the discovery and dismantling of a sizable opioid production ring.
The probe, coined Project Odeon, began in 2021 after police discovered a make-shift lab at a residence on Hamilton’s Mountain while investigating a drug-related death in the area.
“Investigators subsequently suspected a link between this death, an earlier overdose resulting in hospitalization, and a death at a Toronto condominium,” police said in a press release on Thursday.
Investigators were able to trace seized paraphernalia to a company in the United States, who had sold multiple items of equipment to a company in Oshawa.
From there police pieced together evidence of an “extended drug network, ” spanning the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and further.
Hamilton has long been grappling with a rise in the circulation of highly addictive substances putting a strain on public resources to such a degree that the city declared a state of emergency in April 2023, citing “homelessness, opioid addiction and mental health,” as the causes, police said.
Through Project Odeon, police have “made a significant dent in the production of opioids” and believe it will have an “impact on public safety in the community,” Supt.Marty Schulenberg said.
Between Jan. 1 and July. 30 of this year police reported 606 incidents related to suspected opioid overdoses and 89 suspected drug-related deaths in Hamilton, numbers that have been steadily rising over the past five years.
Warrants resulted in the discovery of an operational fentanyl lab in Smithville, a dismantled fentanyl drug lab in Stouffville, approximately 3.5 tons of chemical by-product and lab equipment, including 800 gallons of chemicals, all used in the production of fentanyl, and over 100kg of illicit drugs.
A loaded glock firearm and ammunition, four extended magazines and over $350,000 of seized proceeds, including cars, jewelry, furniture and cash were also found, police said.
Twelve individuals have been arrested as a result of the investigation, including 31-year-old Toronto-based physician Cindy Ly. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario are aware of the charges against Ly.
There is also a Canada-wide warrant out for the arrest of 34-year-old Kien Trung Hoang from Toronto.
(Courtesy: Hamilton Police Service)
The suspects are facing a total of 48 charges, including possession for the purpose of trafficking, production of substance, proceeds of crime, firearm possession and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.
“Ultimately, the seizure of these opioids contributes to reducing the harms associated with opioid use for those who use substances, their family and friends, and the broader community,” Julie Prieto, director, Hamilton Public Health Services Epidemiology and Wellness Division, said.
Hamilton police is asking anyone with information that could assist with their investigation to contact Det. Eric Hrab at 905-546-6340.
