Ajax teen among 22 in upper Ottawa Valley ‘Project Nield’ drug bust

Police rounded up 22 people, one of whom is from Ajax, and laid nearly 200 charges after executing eight search warrants in a large-scale drug bust last week.

The bust, known as Project Nield, saw police execute the warrants in Arnprior, Pembroke, and Renfrew. Investigators seized numerous drugs such as fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine, regular cocaine, crystal meth, and magic mushrooms.

Police also found a variety of weapons including tasers, pepper spray ammo, rifles, and imitation pistols, along with thousands of dollars in cash, several cell phones, weighing scales and a debt list.

The nearly two dozen people, between ages 17 and 78 were arrested on possession, trafficking and/or possession charges;

• Michelle Arnold, 54 of Pembroke
• Cody Burke, 29 of Pembroke
• Rachelle Desormeaux, 78 of Renfrew
• Malik Gebara, 19 of Orleans
• Thomas Gilks, 21 of Arnprior
• Peter Goyette, 39 of Gatineau, Quebec
• Michael Greenfield, 38 of L’Isle aux Allumettes, Quebec
• Jean LaFontaine, 55 of Pembroke
• Tammy Laundrie, 57 of Renfrew
• Thomas Laundrie, 54 of Renfrew
• Patrick Lawrence, 35 of Pembroke
• Tammy Leclaire, 51 of Renfrew
• Shawn McAdam, 48 of Renfrew
• Kyle Peplinskie, 35 of Pembroke
• Sarah Proksch, 25 of Pembroke
• Jason Ranger, 47 of Pembroke
• Matthew Ranger, 24 of Pembroke
• Kachina Sackaney, 28 of Golden Lake
• Heidi Scanes, 37 of Pembroke
• Logan Stevens, 25 of Pembroke
• Roseanne Sylvester, 38 of Pembroke

Eleven suspects were released with conditions. The other ten were held until bail hearings with some being released afterwards.

The final arrest is a 17-year-old from Ajax who charged with

• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine – two counts
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose trafficking – fentanyl
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – oxycodone
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – codeine
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5000
• Obstructing a Peace Officer
• Failure to comply with sentence

The teen’s identity is protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act. They were initially held until a bail hearing, but later released pending a court appearance in Pembroke January 27.