Violent crime and drug investigation in Cambridge nets 30 arrests

A four-month investigation into violent crimes and the illicit drug trade in Cambridge has resulted in 30 people being arrested and 115 charges, the Waterloo Regional Police Service says.

The investigation, dubbed Project Piece, saw people between the ages of 17 and 59 arrested, Chief Bryan Larkin said Friday.

Of those charged, all but two were from Cambridge. The other two people were from Kitchener.

Of the charges, 68 were Criminal Code offences, 41 were under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and there were six Provincial Offences. The estimated street value of the drugs is $140,000.

As part of the investigation, policeseized:

• Four firearms.
• Three imitation firearms.
• Approximately 427 grams of fentanyl.
• Two syringes of liquid fentanyl.
• Two drug presses.
• Prohibited weapons such as a conducted energy weapon, expandable baton and knives.
• 40 rounds of ammunition.
• A crossbow.

Officers also seized other drugs including approximately 156 grams of methamphetamine, 39 grams of cocaine and 1,100 pills, including hydromorphone and other controlled substances, as well as counterfeit currency and more than $12,000 in Canadian currency.

'Significant disruption' to street trade

Larkin says the service focused on Cambridge for this investigation after they saw a rise in crime there.

So far this year, all three of Waterloo region's homicides were in Cambridge. All three were the result of gun violence.

Larkin said the seizures of drugs and weapons would result in a "significant disruption to the street trade."

"The number of weapons, ammunition and illegal drugs that were seized during this investigation is concerning, and it ought to be concerning to us, it ought to be concerning to our community," he said.