Lengthy Drug Investigation Leads to Series of Arrests

The Halton Regional Police Service's (HRPS) Drug and Human Trafficking Unit has made a number of arrests related to a drug trafficking investigation that began in April (2020) in Oakville. On April 23, 2020 HRPS officers located and arrested Jeremy Bailey (28) of Toronto in Mississauga. He was charged with the following offences:

Trafficking a controlled substance (Fentanyl)
Possession for the purpose of trafficking
Fail to comply with release order (x2)

The investigation continued and on May 6, 2020 Joel Benjamin (28) of Hamilton was arrested in Hamilton. He has been charged with the following offences:

Trafficking a controlled substance (Fentanyl)
Possession for the purpose of trafficking (x3)
Breach of Probation

Investigators executed a search warrant in relation to Benjamin's arrest and seized the following items:

4.2 grams of 'purple' fentanyl
79.6 grams of cocaine
29 grams of crack cocaine
15.3 grams of meth
355 grams of phenacetin
$7640.00 Canadian currency

On May 7, 2020 Patrick McNerney (49) of Oakville was arrested in Oakville. He has been charged with the following offences:

Possession for the purpose of trafficking (x3)
Investigators executed a search warrant in relation to McNerney's arrest and seized the following items:
15 grams of 'purple' fentanyl
48 grams of meth
7.8 grams of cocaine
$500.00 Canadian currency

Both Benjamin and McNerney were held pending a court appearance in Milton. Anyone with information in regards to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Paul St Denis of the Regional Drug Unit at 905-825-4747 ext. 4966. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. "See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers" at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca. The Halton Regional Police Service continues to work collaboratively with stakeholders to develop and deliver comprehensive strategies and interventions to address the issues related to the illicit use, misuse or abuse of opioids in our community. This includes work across various sectors to build resiliency in all four municipalities through the Halton Region - Community Safety & Well-Being Plan. If you use drugs, or have a friend or family member who uses drugs, you are urged to remember that street drugs are unpredictable. Any drug can be cut with, or contaminated by, other agents or drugs (e.g. fentanyl), which in very small amounts can be harmful or fatal. Know your tolerance and always use a small amount of a drug first to check the strength. These tips may help save a life in the event of an overdose: Know the signs. An overdose is a medical emergency. Know the signs of an overdose and call 9-1-1 right away:

difficulty walking, talking, or staying awake
blue lips or nails
very small pupils
cold and clammy skin
dizziness and confusion
extreme drowsiness
choking, gurgling or snoring sounds
slow, weak or no breathing
inability to wake up, even when shaken or shouted at

Don't run. Call 9-1-1. Our frontline officers, and other first responders in Halton, carry naloxone and we want to assist. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides broad legal protections for anyone seeking emergency support during an overdose, including the person experiencing an overdose. This means citizens, including youth, will not be charged for offences such as simple possession for calling 9-1-1 in an emergency. Carry naloxone, a drug that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. For more information about where you can pick up Naloxone free-of-charge in Halton, visit: https://www.halton.ca/For-Residents/Public-Health/Substance-Use/Opioids. Never use alone. Don't use drugs alone, and don't let those around you use alone either. If you overdose when you are alone, there will be no one there to help you. If you are using with someone else, don't use at the same time.