30 People Arrested in 'Project Road King'

The NRP worked with other police to find drugs, stolen vehicles, 19 people from Niagara arrested

It all started in Niagara back in August of 2024, a large scale investigation by police of illegal drug activity, that expanded into Hamilton and Toronto.

The NRP, working with the RCMP, Hamilton, Halton, Brantford and other police forces in Project Road King, have arrested 30 people, 19 from Niagara, and found 38 stolen vehicles, $245,000 in cocaine, 20 guns, and over $500,000.

• 38 Recovered stolen vehicles ($3,363,652.00)
• 12.25kg of suspected Cocaine ($245,000.00)
• 1 kg of suspected Methamphetamine ($5,000.00)
• 1.5 kg MDMA ($15,000.00)
• 17 Long guns
• 3 Handguns
• $503, 450.00 in Canadian Currency
• $4,805.00 in U.S. Currency

NRP Chief Bill Fordy gave arrest details this morning after 12 search warrants were used in Niagara, Hamilton and Toronto on September 9th.  "In speaking with the investigative team, I learned that several of these individuals choose to flee from police at dangerously high speeds, when confronted by front line patrol officers.  This is not just reckless, it puts lives at risk."

Police say several vehicles were intercepted in containers at seaports, destined for international markets.  The VIN numbers were altered with high precision.

"These are not just statistics, but every dollar seized represents money that will no longer fuel criminal activity.  Every drug taken off the street represents a potential life saved." 

Curtis GRAVELLE, 31-year-old male, from Welland (42 charges) (in custody)

• 5 counts of Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
• 11 counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• 2 counts of Possession of a Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine)
• 2 counts of Traffic in Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• 6 counts of Traffic in Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• 9 counts of Possession Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Careless Storage of a Firearm
• Possess Firearm without Holding a Licence
• Possess Firearm Knowingly Not Holding a Licence
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle
• Possession of a Loaded Regulated Firearm
• Possess Firearm Knowing Serial Number has been Tampered
• Possess Firearm Contrary to Order

Tim GRAVELLE, 36-year-old male, from Pelham (12 charges) (in custody)

• 4 counts of Conspiracy to Possess Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Trafficking Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine)
• Conspiracy to Traffic Prohibited Firearm
• Possession of a Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Prohibited Firearm
• Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Firearm
• Firearm in Motor Vehicle
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• Re-Vin Alteration of a Vin on a Motor Vehicle

Brandon BARREIRA, 31-year-old male, from Hamilton (4 charges) (in custody)

• Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence
• 2 counts of Possession Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) For the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000

Samantha GRAVELLE, 27-year-old female, from Welland (4 charges)

• 2 counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• Uttering Forged Document
• Fraud Over $5000

Michael VANDERZANDEN, 39-year-old male, from Hamilton (7 charges)

• 2 Counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime for Trafficking
• Traffic in Property Obtained by Crime Exceeding $5000
• Possession or Property Obtained by Crime for the Purpose of Trafficking Exceeding $5000
• 2 counts of Possess Property of Thing Obtained by Crime within Canada Exceeding $5000
• Utter Forged Document
• Fraud Over $5000

Tudor SOPTERIAN, 32-year-old male, from Hamilton (8 charges)

• 4 Counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• 3 Counts of Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime for Trafficking
• Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Device
• Careless Storage of a Firearm
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000
• Remove/Alter Vehicle Identification Number
• Fraud Over $5000
• Public Mischief

Andrija LOJOVIC, 44-year-old male, from Grimsby (3 charges)

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• Traffic in Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• Possession or Property Obtained by Crime for the Purpose of Trafficking Over $5000

Chad HARTLEY, 50-year-old male, from Welland (24 charges)

• 10 counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• 7 counts of Traffic in Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• 7 counts of Possession or Property Obtained by Crime for the Purpose of Trafficking Over $5000

Christopher DAYBOLL, 33-year-old male, from Port Colborne (3 charges)

• Conspiracy to Possess Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of a Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine)
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm

Justin BARTFAI-BELL, 31-year-old female, from Thorold (1 charge)

• Traffic in Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000

Keiran BARTON, 23-year-old male, from Etobicoke (3 charges)

• Possession of a Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Trafficking Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine)
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000

Courtney TAYLOR, 36-year-old female, from Hamilton (5 charges)

• 2 counts of Conspiracy to Possess Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) for the Purpose of Trafficking
• 2 counts of Possession of a Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000

Marta LEITE, 54-year-old female, from Hamilton (1 charge)

• Possession of a Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) for the Purpose of Trafficking

Andrew FUGERE, 32-year-old male, from Port Colborne (8 charges)

• 2 counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• Traffic in Property Obtained by Crime
• Possess Property Obtained by Crime for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Utter Forged Document
• Fraud Over $5000
• Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm

Khalid IDRIS, 35-year-old male, from Toronto (5 charges)

• 2 counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over
• Traffic Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Alter/Remove or Obliterate a Vehicle Identification Number

Marc- Andre PERIARD, 41-year-old male, from Welland (10 charges)

• 4 counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• 3 counts of Traffic in Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• 3 counts of Possess Property Obtained of Crime Over $5000 for the Purpose of Trafficking

 Taylor VANDERZANDEN, 29-year-old male, from Pelham (4 charges)

• Possess Firearm Knowingly Not Holding Licence
• Possess Firearm Without Holding a Licence
• Careless Storage of Firearm
• Possession Schedule 1 Substance (MDMA) for the Purpose of Trafficking

Auston ROBINSON, 31-year-old male, from Pelham (5 charges)

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• 2 counts of Traffic Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• 2 counts of Possess Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 for the Purpose of Trafficking

Courtney BROWN, 37-year-old male, from Niagara Falls (4 charges)

• Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence
• 2 counts of Possession Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) For the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000

Kier MCCOLL, 39-year-old male, from Hamilton (5 charges)

• Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5000
• Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence
• Possession Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) For the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine)
• Possession Schedule 1 Substance (MDMA)    

Brody O’DELL, 22-year-old male, from Lincoln (7 charges)

• 3 counts of Traffic Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• 4 counts of Possess Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 for the Purpose of Trafficking

Tristan GORDON, 31-year-old male, from Niagara Falls (2 charges)

• Possession of a Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime

Brenda DUBE, 50-year-old female, from Niagara Falls (2 charges)

• Possession of a Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime

Ryan MCMANN, 34-year-old male, from Welland (3 charges)

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• Traffic in Property Obtained by Crime Exceeding $5000
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 for the Purpose of Trafficking 

Santoy MCKENLY, 33-year-old male, of No Fixed Abode (1 charge)

• Possession Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine) For the Purpose of Trafficking

 Darryl DAVANCE, 24-year-old male, from Montreal (14 charges)

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000
• 2 counts of Possession of Device for Purpose of Committing Theft
• 2 counts of Possession of Burglary Tools
• 4 counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000
• Possession or Prohibited Weapon
• Possession of Electronic Device for Committing Motor Vehicle Theft
• Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• Theft of Motor Vehicle
• Fail to Comply with Release Order

Jovenson ESTIME, 23-year-old male, from Montreal (14 charges)  

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000
• 2 counts of Possession of Device for Purpose of Committing Theft
• 2 counts of Possession of Burglary Tools
• 4 counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000
• Possession or Prohibited Weapon
• Possession of Electronic Device for Committing Motor Vehicle Theft
• Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• Theft of Motor Vehicle
• Failing to Comply with Probation Order

Rocco LAURENTI, 27-year-old male, from Pelham (1 charge)

• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine)

Joshua ST. AMOUR, 26-year-old male, from Thorold (8 charges)

• Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Schedule 1 Substance (Methamphetamine)
• Possession of Proceeds Obtained by Crime Over $5000
• Obstruct Peace Officer
• 3 counts of Fail to Comply with Probation Order

Lexi JUDGE, 25-year-old female, from Niagara Falls (3 charges)

• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Schedule 1 Substance (Cocaine)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Schedule 1 Substance (Methamphetamine)
• Possession of Proceeds Obtained by Crime Over $5000

Curtis GRAVELLE, Timothy GRAVELLE and Brandon BARREIRA remain in custody.  The remaining 27 accused persons were released on various forms.