Drugs worth $25K seized in a suspected tow truck operation in Mississauga, Durham and beyond

A Mississauga tow truck driver faces drug trafficking charges in a suspected operation, which extended into Toronto, Durham Region, York and Barrie.

The investigation into a drug trafficking in the Mississauga area, believed to be connected to a towing operation, started in October, OPP said in a press release on Nov. 8.

On Nov. 3, an OPP-led team consisting of officers from Peel Regional Police, Toronto Police Service, Durham Regional Police Service, York Regional Police and Barrie Police Service, searched a residence and tow truck in Mississauga.

Police seized a “significant quantity of suspected controlled substances”, including approximately 75 LSD tablets, 670 codeine tablets, 390 oxycodone tablets, 10 morphine tablets, six grams of methamphetamine, 30 grams of cannabis, 25 cannabis edibles as well as nine grams of psilocybin and 360 psilocybin tablets.

And more than 500 tablets of suspected opioids were also seized.

The approximate street value of the drugs is $25,000, police said.

Yousif Al-Awad, 24, from Mississauga, faces several charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), Cannabis Act (CA) and the Criminal Code (CC):

• Possession of Controlled Substance Schedule I (opioid) for the purpose of trafficking – CDSA section 5(2), 12 counts
• Possession of Controlled Substance Schedule I (methamphetamine) for the purpose of trafficking – CDSA section 5(2)
• Possession of Controlled Substance Schedule I (Heroin) for the purpose of trafficking – CDSA section 5(2)
• Possession of Controlled Substance Schedule I (Other Drugs) for the purpose of trafficking – CDSA section 5(2)
• Possession for the Purpose of Distributing -CA section 9(2)
• Possessing Cannabis for the Purpose of Selling – CA section 10(2)

The accused was held in custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Mississauga at a later date.