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Police seize $430,000 worth of drugs in major investigation (updated)

Eight Niagara Falls people and three others face numerous serious charges including firearms and drug charges
ThoroldToday Staff
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NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE SERVICES
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Update:

Additional charges have been laid against three individuals involved in this investigation.

Twenty-eight-year-old Derek Horth of the City of Niagara Falls is facing the following alleged charges:
    •    Unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm CC Sec. 91(1)
    •    Possession restricted firearm knowingly not holding a licence CC Sec. 92(1)
    •    Careless storage of firearm CC Sec. 86(1)
    •    Possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition CC Sec. 95(1)
    •    Possession of a controlled substance Sec 4(1) CD
    •    Unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm CC Sec. 91(1)
    •    Possession restricted firearm knowingly not holding a licence CC Sec. 92(1)
    •    Careless storage of firearm CC Sec. 86(1)
    •    Possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition CC Sec. 95(1)
    •    Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking Sec 5(2) CDSA (cocaine)
    •    Possession of a schedule 3 substance for the purpose of trafficking (psilocybin) CDSA
    •    Possession for the purpose of distributing Sec 9(2) Cannabis Act
    •    Possession of proceeds of crime under Sec 355(b) CC

Thirty-one-year-old Evgeny Zhelinskiy of the City of Niagara Falls is facing the following alleged charges:
    •    Unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm CC Sec. 91(1)
    •    Possession restricted firearm knowingly not holding a licence CC Sec. 92(1)
    •    Careless storage of firearm CC Sec. 86(1)
    •    Possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition CC Sec. 95(1)
    •    Possession of a controlled substance Sec 4(1) CD
    •    Unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm CC Sec. 91(1)
    •    Possession restricted firearm knowingly not holding a licence CC Sec. 92(1)
    •    Careless storage of firearm CC Sec. 86(1)
    •    Possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition CC Sec. 95(1)
    •    Unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm CC Sec. 91(1)
    •    Possession restricted firearm knowingly not holding a licence CC Sec. 92(1)
    •    Careless storage of firearm CC Sec. 86(1)
    •    Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking Sec 5(2) CDSA (cocaine)
    •    Possession of a schedule 3 substance for the purpose of trafficking (psilocybin) CDSA
    •    Possession for the purpose of distributing Sec 9(2) Cannabis Act
    •    Possession of proceeds of crime under Sec 355(b) CC

Thirty-one-year-old Dragomir Mandic of the City of Niagara Falls is facing the following alleged charges:
    •    Unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm CC Sec. 91(1)
    •    Possession restricted firearm knowingly not holding a licence CC Sec. 92(1)
    •    Careless storage of firearm CC Sec. 86(1)
    •    Possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition CC Sec. 95(1)
    •    Possession of a controlled substance Sec 4(1) CD
    •    Unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm CC Sec. 91(1)
    •    Possession restricted firearm knowingly not holding a licence CC Sec. 92(1)
    •    Careless storage of firearm CC Sec. 86(1)
    •    Possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition CC Sec. 95(1)
    •    Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking Sec 5(2) CDSA (cocaine)
    •    Possession of a schedule 3 substance for the purpose of trafficking (psilocybin) CDSA
    •    Possession for the purpose of distributing Sec 9(2) Cannabis Act
    •    Possession of proceeds of crime under Sec 355(b) CC

Original release:
Since the Fall of 2019, members of the Niagara Regional Police Services, Morality Unit and Guns, Gangs and Grow Unit have been conducting a drug trafficking investigation in the City of Niagara Falls. Throughout the investigation, Police identified several individuals as being part of this organization.

As a result of the investigation, detectives executed 10 search warrants on March 4, 2020, throughout the City of Niagara Falls with the assistance of the Emergency Task Unit (ETU) as well as 1 District (St. Catharines,) 2 District (Niagara Falls) and 3 District (Welland) Street Crime Units.

During the searches, officers located and seized over 2500 grams of cocaine, 498 grams of fentanyl in pill form, 8 pounds of marijuana and approximately $18,000 in currency. Police also located and seized 12 firearms and a stun gun.

The estimated street value of the drugs seized is $430,000.

Twenty-eight-year-old Derek Horth of the City of Niagara Falls is facing the following alleged charges:

  • Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking Sec 5(2) CDSA (cocaine)
  • Possession of a schedule 3 Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Psilocybin) CDSA
  • Possession for the Purpose of Distributing Sec 9(2) Cannabis Act
  • Possession of Proceeds of Crime Under Sec 355(b) CC]

Thirty-one-year-old Evgeny Zhelinskiy of the City of Niagara Falls is facing the following alleged charges:

  • Possession Of A Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking Sec 5(2) CDSA ( Cocaine)
  • Possession of a schedule 3 Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Psilocybin) CDSA
  • Possession for the Purpose of Distributing Sec 9(2) Cannabis Act
  • Possession of Proceeds of Crime Under Sec 355(b) CC]

Thirty-one-year-old Dragomir Mandic of the City of Niagara Falls is facing the following alleged charges:

  • Possession Of A Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking Sec 5(2) CDSA ( Cocaine)
  • Possession of a schedule 3 Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Psilocybin) CDSA
  • Possession for the Purpose of Distributing Sec 9(2) Cannabis Act
  • Possession of Proceeds of Crime Under Sec 355(b) CC]

Twenty-nine-year-old Andrew Wannek of Callander is facing the following alleged charges:

  • Unauthorized Possession of a Restricted Firearm CC Sec. 91(1)
  • Possession Restricted Firearm Knowingly Not Holding a Licence CC Sec. 92(1)
  • Careless Storage of Firearm CC Sec. 86(1)
  • Possession of a Restricted Firearm with Ammunition CC Sec. 95(1)
  • Possession of a Controlled Substance Sec 4(1) CD
  • Unauthorized Possession of a Restricted Firearm CC Sec. 91(1)
  • Possession Restricted Firearm Knowingly Not Holding a Licence CC Sec. 92(1)
  • Careless Storage of Firearm CC Sec. 86(1)
  • Possession of a Restricted Firearm with Ammunition CC Sec. 95(1)

Twenty-nine-year-old Sadia Ann Henry of the City of Toronto is facing the following alleged charges:

  • Unauthorized Possession of a Restricted Firearm CC Sec. 91(1)
  • Possession Restricted Firearm Knowingly Not Holding a Licence CC Sec. 92(1)
  • Careless Storage of Firearm CC Sec. 86(1)
  • Possession of a Restricted Firearm with Ammunition CC Sec. 95(1)
  • Possession of a Controlled Substance Sec 4(1) CD
  • Unauthorized Possession of a Restricted Firearm CC Sec. 91(1)
  • Possession Restricted Firearm Knowingly Not Holding a Licence CC Sec. 92(1)
  • Careless Storage of Firearm CC Sec. 86(1)
  • Possession of a Restricted Firearm with Ammunition CC Sec. 95(1)

Twenty-three-year-old Elizabeth Bien-Aime of the City of Ottawa is facing the following alleged charges:

  • Unauthorized Possession of a Restricted Firearm CC Sec. 91(1)
  • Possession Restricted Firearm Knowingly Not Holding a Licence CC Sec. 92(1)
  • Careless Storage of Firearm CC Sec. 86(1)
  • Possession of a Restricted Firearm with Ammunition CC Sec. 95(1)
  • Possession of a Controlled Substance Sec 4(1) CD
  • Unauthorized Possession of a Restricted Firearm CC Sec. 91(1)
  • Possession Restricted Firearm Knowingly Not Holding a Licence CC Sec. 92(1)
  • Careless Storage of Firearm CC Sec. 86(1)
  • Possession of a Restricted Firearm with Ammunition CC Sec. 95(1)

Thirty-year-old Chris Panton of the City of Niagara Falls is facing the following alleged charges:

  • Possession Of A Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking Sec 5(2) CDSA ( Cocaine)
  • Possession of a schedule 3 Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Psilocybin) CDSA
  • Possession for the Purpose of Distributing Sec 9(2) Cannabis Act
  • Possession of Proceeds of Crime Under Sec 355(b) CC]

Twenty-five-year-old Randy Fader Jr. of the City of Niagara Falls is facing the following alleged charges:

  • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking to wit Cocaine - Section 5(2) CDSA
  • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking to wit Fentanyl - Section 5(2) CDSA
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Possession of a firearm knowing that the serial number has been altered, defaced or removed - Section 108(1)(b)
  • Possession of a firearm obtained by commission of offence - Section 96(1) CC
  • Possession of a prohibited weapon - Section 88(1) CC=
  • Possession of an Item For the production of a Schedule I Substance 7.1(2) CDSA
  • Production of a Schedule I substance Section 7(1) CDSA]

Fifty-six-year-old Randy Fader Sr. of the City of Niagara Falls is facing the following alleged charges:

  • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking to wit Cocaine - Section 5(2) CDSA
  • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking to wit Fentanyl - Section 5(2) CDSA
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Possession of a firearm knowing that the serial number has been altered, defaced or removed - Section 108(1)(b)
  • Possession of a firearm obtained by commission of offence - Section 96(1) CC
  • Possession of a prohibited weapon - Section 88(1) CC
  • Possession of proceeds of crime under $5000
  • Possession of an Item For the production of a Schedule I Substance 7.1(2) CDSA
  • Production of a Schedule I substance Section 7(1) CDSA]

Fifty-six-year-old Clarelee Fader of The City of Niagara Falls is facing the following alleged charges:

  • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking to wit Cocaine - Section 5(2) CDSA
  • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking to wit Fentanyl - Section 5(2) CDSA
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Possession of a firearm obtained by commission of offence - Section 96(1) CC
  • Possession of a firearm knowing that the serial number has been altered, defaced or removed - Section 108(1)(b)
  • Possession of a prohibited weapon - Section 88(1) CC
  • Possession of Proceeds of Crime Under $5000 - Section 355(b) CC
  • Possession of an Item For the production of a Schedule I Substance 7.1(2) CDSA
  • Production of a Schedule I substance Section 7(1) CDSA

Twenty-eight-year-old Destiny Fader of The City of Niagara Falls is facing the following alleged charges:

  • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking to wit Cocaine - Section 5(2) CDSA
  • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking to wit Fentanyl - Section 5(2) CDSA
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Unsafe storage of a firearm - Section 86(1) CC
  • Possession of a firearm obtained by commission of offence - Section 96(1) CC
  • Possession of a firearm knowing that the serial number has been altered, defaced or removed - Section 108(1)(b)
  • Possession of a prohibited weapon - Section 88(1) CC
  • Possession of Proceeds of Crime Under $5000 - Section 355(b) CC
  • Possession of an Item For the production of a Schedule I Substance 7.1(2) CDSA
  • Production of a Schedule I substance Section 7(1) CDSA

All of the accused were held in custody pending a bail hearing on Monday, March 9, 2020, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse in the City of St. Catharines.

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