The Halton Regional Police Service says it has completed a drug investigation in Burlington that ended with multiple arrests, more than a dozen charges, and significant gun and drug seizures.
Project Oyster was a lengthy investigation conducted by the 3 District (Burlington) Street Crime Unit with the assistance of multiple units within the HRPS, the Hamilton Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police.
On Feb. 15, police executed warrants at addresses in Burlington, Hamilton, Beamsville and Grimsby.
As a result of those warrants, officers seized more than five kilograms of cocaine and three loaded handguns.
The handguns were located by police in custom built hidden compartments inside three vehicles also seized by police, the HRPS said in a news release.
Police said items seized include:
- 5.75 Kilograms of Cocaine
- 45 Kilograms of Cutting Agents
- 1 Cocaine Press
- 3 Loaded Glock Handguns with Serial Numbers Removed
- 85 Oxycodone Pills
- 75 Rounds of Ammunition
- 28 Grams of Psilocybin
- Approximately $30,000 in Canadian currency
On Feb. 15, three male suspects were also arrested.
Stephen Papadopoulos, 44, of Hamilton has been charged with:
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (2 counts)
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in a Vehicle
- Possession of a Prohibited Firearm with Ammunition
- Possession of Firearm, Ammunition Contrary to Probation Order (2 counts)
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
Kim Hay Heng, 38, of Beamsville has been charged with:
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (3 counts)
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm (2 counts)
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in a Vehicle (2 counts)
- Possession of a Prohibited Device
- Possession of Firearm, Ammunition Contrary to Probation Order (2 counts)
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000
Frank Pearlman, 35, of Grimsby has been charged with:
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (2 counts)
All three suspects were held in custody pending a bail hearing in Milton.
None of the allegations have been tested in court and the accused are considered innocent unless proven guilty.
Anyone with information on the investigation is asked to contact the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777, ext. 2316.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
