Police round up 17 local drug suspects (updated)

Seventeen people have been arrested today after a six-month multi-agency undercover drug operation, police announced this afternoon.

At a news conference at City Police headquarters, investigators said that search warrants were executed at four locations in Sault Ste. Marie.

Police seized cocaine, marijuana, marijuana plants, hashish, hash oil, morphine, Percocet and OxyContin with an estimated street value of $11,360.

Also seized were drug paraphernalia, a firearm and $3,400 in cash.

One of the accused is a young person who cannot be named in media reports.

Warrants have been issued for the arrests of four other individuals.

The joint investigation involved officers from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, RCMP, OPP, Anishinabek Police Service, Batchewana Police and Canada Border Services.

Charged are:

Brenda Ahonen, age 37 203-345 St. Georges Avenue East - four counts of trafficking - two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking

Kenneth Alton, age 45 214-100 James Street - three counts of trafficking - one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking

Steven Ball, age 43 261 St. James Street - one count of trafficking

Douglas Boston, age 44 205-41 Old Garden River Road - six counts of trafficking - one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking

Jean Pierre Chaisson, age 50 21 St. Basils Drive - 13 counts of trafficking - three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking - two counts of possession of a substance - one count of possession of an unauthorized firearm - one count of unsafe storage

Doug Coull, age 55 418 Albert Street West - three counts of possession of a controlled substance - 12 counts of trafficking

Robert Cummings, age 53 Searchmont, ON - two counts of trafficking

William Daigle, age 39 1-606 Wellington Street East - three counts of trafficking - two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking

Kirk Harper, age 52 2-168 Andrew Street - three counts of trafficking

Brenda Harten, age 43 21 St. Basils Drive - three counts of possession of a controlled substance - three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking - one count of unauthorized possession of a firearm - one count of unsafe storage

Terry Neville, age 43 71 Smale Avenue - six counts of trafficking - one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking

17-year-old male - one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking - one count of production of a substance

Danny Adrien (Dan) Saba, age 51 144 Southmarket Street - two counts of trafficking - one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking - one count of production of a substance

Stephen Rodney (Steve) Smylie, age 47 4-519 Queen Street East - two counts of trafficking

Judith Trecartin, age 44 144 Southmarket Street - one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking - one count of production of a substance

James William Wilson, age 35 6-519 Queen Street East - four counts of trafficking

Paul Wilson, age 50 3-305 Huron Street - two counts of trafficking

OPP Chief Superintendent Scott Tod told the media that the timing of these warrants has nothing to do with the fact that the 10th annual Hempfest kicks off tomorrow evening.

The six-month-long investigation was called Project Hub and stemmed from numerous complaints from the public about open drug use and deals occurring in the downtown core that culminated last summer.

The four search warrants were carried out today at 21 St. Basils Drive, 144 Southmarket Street, 345 St. George's Avenue, and 418 Albert Street West.

During the investigation, seven investigators and two undercover officers made a total of 62 drug purchases from suspected drug dealers.

Drugs purchased:

- 10 grams of cocaine ($1,100) - 80 grams of marijuana ($1,600) - three grams of hashish ($75) - 48 grams of hash oil ($1,200) - 12 tablets of morphine ($240) - 31 tablets of Percocet ($620) - one tablet of Oxycontin ($20)

Drugs seized today:

- 58 grams of cocaine ($6,380) - 30 grams of marijuana ($600) - three marijuana plants ($3,000) - 8 grams of hash oil ($200) - 21 tablets of morphine ($420) - 43 tablet of Oxycontin ($860)

It's unknown at this time whether the recent thefts of OxyContin from various drugs stores around town have any relation to these arrests.