Heather Wright/The Independent

Bkejwanong Chief Leela Thomas is hopeful a recent drug bust will make a dent in drug trafficking to Walpole Island.

Three people have been arrested and almost $1.3 million in drugs, weapons and stolen vehicles have been seized in an
investigation that started on Walpole Island.

The OPP, Walpole Island Police and political leaders announced the arrests of three people from London Aug. 19. Police believe one of the suspects was delivering drugs to Walpole Island, Lambton County and Chatham-Kent.

Lambton OPP say the investigation began in April after police received information about drug trafficking on the island. July 17, police searched two London homes and seized drugs – including over 15 kilos of fentanyl – guns, stolen vehicles and cash.

Acting Det. Superintendent Andy Bradford says that’s “is extremely significant.

“The best way I can quantify this is that the amount of 15 kilos equates to hundreds of thousands for overdoses and the real significance is that each one of those is potentially fatal,” he says.

“The illicit drug supply is toxic. It’s made in clandestine laboratories. There’s no quality control. On top of that, this investigation showed that fentanyl was being processed by the accused and it was being mixed with cutting agents.”

Bradford says the dealers were adding dietary supplements to the drugs.

Three people, whom police say are related, were arrested and face a raft of charges including possession of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of stolen property, and firearms charges.

Two, Saad Khan, 27, and Saleh Khan, 28, are still in custody. Fathima Ahamed Fahim, 28, has been released and has a Sept. 14 court date.

Chief Thomas is hopeful the arrests will slow the amount of drugs coming to the community. Walpole Island First Nation declared a State of Emergency due to the drug crisis in 2021.

Thomas says it remains a big concern.

“There’s well-known drug houses in the community,” she said adding the OPP working with the community’s department are doing their best but “there’s work that’s involved into addressing that. So, unfortunately, it just takes a while.”

Kristin Whiteye Noble was one of dozens of residents at the news conference voicing concern about the on-going drug issues.

“There’s drug houses very close to the elementary school on the island,” she said.

“For them to continue to see tragedy after tragedy is heartbreaking. I know there’s resources out there, however…we still don’t know how to ask for it. It’s a difficult road to go down that path and try and get the help that you need,” she says.

“This first step, a major step at that, is what we need because we always ask ‘When are they going to do something… and now that we can physically see this, it means a great deal to the community.”