An investigation into drug trafficking activity in the Quinte area has led to the arrests of four people from Whitby.
The probe, which began earlier this year, resulted in the OPP East Region Community Street Crime Unit, Belleville Police Service Emergency Response Team, Belleville Police Canine Unit and members of the OPP’s Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau conducting a vehicle stop involving a car on the Highway 401 off-ramp at Division Street in Kingston.
Police arrested one person and seized more than 74 grams of suspected cocaine, a quantity of suspected fentanyl, over $300 in cash and items typically associated with drug trafficking.
Shortly after, members of the Community Street Crime Unit, assisted by the OPP East Region Tactics and Rescue Unit and officers from the Prince Edward and Quinte West Detachments, executed a search warrant at a residence on Littlebeck Crescent in Whitby where two people were arrested.
Officers seized two loaded handguns with over-capacity magazines, ammunition, over 1100 grams of suspected cocaine, more than two grams of suspected MDMA, over five grams of fentanyl, more than $10,000 in cash, as well as scales and multiple cell phones.
A third person was arrested later when they returned to the residence.
Ashley Forde, age 48, Dajion Forde and Sophia Abrahams, age 47, all of Whitby, have been charged with:
- Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking – three counts
- Careless storage of a firearm – two counts
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose – two counts
- Possession of a prohibited device or ammunition – two counts
- Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm – two counts
- Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm – two counts
- Possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition – two counts
- Knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm – two counts
- Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5000
Ashley Forde faces an addition count of possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking.
All three of these individuals were held for a bail hearing before the Ontario Court of Justice in Belleville on Wednesday.
Milan Forde, age 18 of Whitby, has been charged with:
- Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking – two counts
- Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm – two counts
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose – two counts
- Possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition – two counts
- Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm – two counts
- Careless storage of a firearm – two counts
- Possession of a prohibited device or ammunition – two counts
- Knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm – two counts
- Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5000
This accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Belleville on July 24.
