A co-ordinated multi-unit drug trafficking investigation has led to two people facing nine charges after significant quantities of cocaine, opioids and methamphetamine were seized.
In June 2025, members of the Ontario Provincial Police East Region Community Street Crime Unit began an investigation into suspected drug trafficking in communities in the Lanark County area.
On Wednesday, Aug. 26, eight search warrants were executed at residences and vehicles in Carleton Place and at several addresses in Kanata by members of:
- OPP Community Street Crime Unit
- OPP Tactical and Rescue Unit
- Ottawa Police Tactical Unit
- Provincial Guns and Gangs — East Region
- OPP Organized Crime and Enforcement Bureau
- OPP Digital Forensics
- OPP Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit
- OPP East Region Intelligence Unit
- Lanark County OPP
- East Regional Support Team
- East Region Emergency Response Team
- East Region Canine Unit
- East Region Physical Surveillance Unit
As a result of the investigation, the following items were seized:
- 677 grams of suspected cocaine
- A large quantity of suspected opioid pills
- 10 grams of suspected methamphetamine
- $18,555 in Canadian currency
- Four vehicles
- Jewellery
- 12 cellphones
- Three digital scales
- A GPS tracker
Miguel Ortiz-Umana, 36, of Ottawa has been charged with:
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking other drugs, two counts
- Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
- Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Harley Smith, 26, of Ottawa has been charged with:
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking another drug
- Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
- Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Ortiz-Umana was remanded in custody pending a bail hearing at a later date. Smith was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Perth on Sept. 21.
Anyone with information about the possession, manufacturing or trafficking of illicit drugs is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
SOURCE: Ontario Provincial Police East Region Community Street Crime Unit.
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