RCMP prevented 52 kilograms of cocaine, with a street value between $1.4 to $1.7 million from entering Canada from Columbia in sea containers and arrested three men and one woman from Ottawa.
The Ottawa RCMP Transnational Serious and Organized Crime (TSOC) team, with the assistance of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Ottawa Police Service have dismantled an Ottawa-based organized crime group responsible for the importation of large shipments of cocaine into Canada.
In August 2023, as a result of CBSA operations in New Brunswick (NB), CBSA Intelligence Officers identified a Canadian business suspected of using sea containers to smuggle drugs from Colombia to Canada.
In October 2023, Colombian authorities provided information that they had seized 38 kilograms of cocaine being shipped from Colombia to a business in the Ottawa area. A second container was still on route to Canada going to the same business.
On Oct. 22, CBSA border services officers and Detector Dog Service in Saint John, NB, located and examined the second container. CBSA uncovered and seized 14 kilograms of cocaine during the search, and referred the investigation to the RCMP.
From there, the RCMP began tracking the container through eastern Canada while turning its focus on to the organized crime group responsible for the importation.
On Nov. 8, Ottawa RCMP TSOC, with assistance from CBSA and Ottawa Police, executed a search warrant on a property near Ottawa, used by the organized crime group to store the drugs pending further distribution. The search of the property resulted in the discovery of two prohibited firearms and a bulletproof vest.
Andrew Abboud, 40, Tawab Sayed Dadshani, 48, Ebrahim Dadshani, 31, and Sawsan Ayack, 38, face drug trafficking, conspiracy and firearms related offences.
All the accused have been held in custody until their next appearance in Ontario Court of Justice on Dec. 15.
Inspector Islam Issa – Officer in charge, Transnational Serious and Organized Crime, RCMP Ottawa Detachment praised the work of the Colombian National Police, Canada Border Services Agency, Ottawa Police Service, and the many RCMP units in Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia that assisted in this investigation.
“This investigation is an excellent example of domestic and international law enforcement agencies working together to achieve a common goal,” she said.
“A very large amount of cocaine as well as firearms were taken off the street, leading to enhanced public safety and a significant loss for organized crime figures in Ottawa.”
” Supt. Jamie Dunlop – Serious and Organized Crime Directorate, Ottawa Police Service said on-going collaboration of law enforcement partners is essential.
Julie Brock – Acting Director, CBSA Intelligence and Enforcement Operations, Atlantic Region said the CBSA works hard to identify, detect and intercept illicit drugs at the border.
“This successful operation shows the value of collaborating with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to disrupt the flow of illegal drugs into Canada.”
If you have any information related to smuggling, drug importation, trafficking, or possession, or wish to report other criminality, contact local police, or through the contacts below:
RCMP Ottawa Detachment at 613-993-5202
Ontario RCMP at 1-800-387-0020
Anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), at any time
