Drugs, weapons seized during Halton police’s Project Spectre

Five guns, a quarter-million dollars in cash and drugs with a wholesale value of more than $1,000,000 were seized during Project Spectre.

The project led by Halton police was joined by the Hamilton police, Peel Police and OPP and, in addition to the seizures, six people are facing multiple drug and firearms charges.

“Like the many projects before it, Project Spectre sends a clear, determined, committed message to those organized crime members that think they can operate within our borders with impunity. It is only a matter of time before you are held accountable,” said Halton Insp. Dave Costantini.

Warrants were executed at five locations in Toronto, two in Hamilton, Oakville and Thorold between May 4 and 5.

Five people were taken into custody at the time and a sixth was arrested on May 16.

At the Thorold location, investigators located and dismantled an active psilocybin (magic mushroom) production site.

As a result of this investigation police have seized:

• 4.5 kilograms of cocaine
• 4 kilograms of MDMA (ecstasy)
• 500 grams fentanyl
• 272 kilograms of packaged cannabis edibles
• 70 kilograms of packaged marijuana
• 1.9 kilograms packaged psilocybin (magic mushrooms)
• 82 kilograms of psilocybin in various stages of growth
• 581 grams of hashish
• 195 grams of ketamine
• 196 oxycodone and hydromorphone pills
• 92 grams cathanone (bath salts)
• 34 kilograms of cutting agents
• $246,000 in Canadian currency

The estimated wholesale value of items seized is upwards of $1,000,000.

In addition, the following firearms were found:

• Ruger (with obliterated SN#)
• Glock SM
• Taurus G3C
• Walther PK
• Keltec Carbine with folding stock
• 50 round high capacity drum magazine

Investigative efforts are underway to determine the origin of these firearms.

The following individuals are facing charges for their alleged involvement:

Christopher Causgrove-Carter, 39, of Toronto

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (5 counts- cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, hydromorphone, psilocybin)
• Possession for the purpose of distribution (3 counts- cannabis, hashish)
• Firearm and prohibited device related offences (12 counts)
• Possession of proceeds of crime
• Breach of firearms prohibition order

Bret Currie, 35, of Toronto

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (5 counts- cocaine, methamphetamine, cathinone, psilocybin, hydromorphone)
• Produce a controlled substance (fentanyl)
• Possession of proceeds of crime
• Possession for the purpose of distribution (2 counts- cannabis)

Michael Eyre (38) of Ancaster

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (2 counts- psilocybin, fentanyl)
• Produce a controlled substance (psilocybin)
• Possession of proceeds of crime
• Possession for the purpose of distribution (2 counts- cannabis)

Parham Tabrizi, 38, of Toronto

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (3 counts- oxycodone, ketamine, cocaine)
• Possession of proceeds of crime
• Possession for the purpose of distribution (cannabis)

Marta Plewka, 37, of Oakville

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl)
• Possession for the purpose of distribution (cannabis)

Michael Vanderzanden, 37, of Hamilton

• Breach of firearms prohibition order

Causgrove-Carter, Currie and Eyre were subsequently held for bail. Tabrizi, Vanderzanden, and Plewka were released on undertakings with a future court date.

At the time of their arrests, Causgrove-Carter and Vanderzanden were on weapon prohibition orders with conditions not to possess any weapons.