A Carleton Place man has already had his initial day in court as part of the Ontario-wide “Project Alloy” bust announced by OPP Tuesday (November 14th).
32 year-old Nicholas Freda faces seven charges- three relating to hard drugs trafficking, three weapons offences, and one count of conspiracy.
Four of his alleged co-conspirators, from Ottawa and Gatineau joined him yesterday at Ontario Court of Justice in the Nation’s capital.
A fifth, Tia Vong, age 31 of Ottawa was released with a December 5th appearance date.
In total the six face 42 charges stemming from a five-month investigation into criminal network activity in the Ottawa and Thunder Bay areas led by the OPP’s Joint Forces Guns and Gangs Enforcement Team (PGNG).
Last Thursday (November 9th) nine search warrants were sprung in Ottawa, Gatineau, Carleton Place and Thunder Bay, with officers seizing a large quantity of illicit drugs, firearms and offence-related property valued at approximately $200,000.
The police investigation is on-going and anyone with information on the possession, manufacturing or trafficking of illicit drugs or illegal firearms is urged to call OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
By Rick Stow