Niagara police charge 5 people after seizing nearly $80K in drugs

Niagara police charged five people Tuesday in connection with a drug trafficking investigation, which involved the seizure of nearly $80,000 in illicit substances.

Officers say they began the investigation in February into the illegal trafficking of drugs in the Niagara region.

They say a male suspect was seen travelling through the region and “exhibited behaviour consistent with the illegal trafficking of drugs.”

Detectives placed two parties under arrest Tuesday at around 2:50 p.m., after seeing them allegedly conducting mobile drug transactions in a vehicle.

Police then performed search warrants at three addresses and a vehicle, where they arrested three additional suspects.

As part of the investigation, they seized:

• 150 grams of suspected fentanyl with an estimated street value of $35,200;
• 280 grams of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $28,000;
• 137 grams of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of $13,700;
• 62 tablets of suspected oxycodone with an estimated street value of $1,240;
• $8,620 of Canadian currency;
• And one spring-loaded knife.

READ MORE: Niagara police arrest two, seize $114k in drugs following trafficking bust

Officers have charged 27-year-old Belaluddin Shahabuddin of Thorold with several offences including possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking, possessing a prohibited weapon and trafficking methamphetamine.

They charged 25-year-old Kye Cheshire of Niagara Falls with offences including possessing oxycodone and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, and for possessing proceeds obtained by crime under $5,000.

Shahabuddin and Chehsire remain in custody and are scheduled to attend a bail hearing at a St. Catharines courthouse Wednesday.

Police have charged 27-year-old Janelle McLeod of Thorold with one count of possessing proceeds obtained by crime over $5,000 and one count of possessing a prohibited weapon.

Trevor Avery, 58, of St. Catharines was charged with possessing fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking.

Terry Gray, 54, of St. Catharines was charged with offences including trafficking methamphetamine, possessing proceeds obtained by crime under $5,000 and for possessing drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking.

McLeod, Avery and Gray were released on an undertaking with future court dates.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at (905) 688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009702.

Tips can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Niagara online here, or by calling 1-800-222-8477(TIPS).

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