Woodstock Man Charged in Million Dollar Drug Bust

Thursday, 17 November 2022 12:44

By Brad Kraemer

Five individuals have been charged with a total of 25 offences under the Cannabis Act, Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

LONDON/WOODSTOCK - A Woodstock man is among the suspects charged in a multi-million dollar OPP seizure.

The OPP-led Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET) began an investigation into an illegal cannabis distribution network in Southwestern Ontario back in May as a result of information provided by the London Police Service.

On November 9, PJFCET executed one search warrant in the City of Woodstock and three search warrants in the City of London, with support from several OPP and London Police units.

As a result of the search warrants, police seized approximately 110 kilograms of dried cannabis, five kilograms of cannabis resin, two kilograms of cannabis shatter, more than 4,500 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) vape pens, 170 vials of cannabis shatter, 280 THC bars, more than 5,000 THC gummies, 900 psilocybin gummies, 800 psilocybin bars, more than 1,000 pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes, 60 THC suckers, 55 millilitres cannabis oil, 16 ounces of cocaine, more than 100 suspected oxycodone pills, more than 200 suspected Percocet pills and more than 150 suspected hydromorphone pills. The total estimated street value of the drugs seized is $876,895.

In addition to the drugs seized, police seized more than one million dollars in Canadian currency, two gold Rolex watches with an approximate value of $20,000 each and three vehicles with a combined estimated value of more than $270,000 as offence-related property. A sawed-off shotgun with ammunition was also seized.

Five individuals have been charged with a total of 25 offences under the Cannabis Act (CA), Criminal Code (CC) and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). They were released from custody upon arrest and will appear at a London court in January.

31-year-old Matthew Blumenstock from Woodstock has been charged with possession for the purpose of distributing, possession of cocaine, unauthorized possession of a firearm (with knowledge), careless storage of firearm, possession of loaded restricted firearm, possession of a Schedule III substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

The remaining four individuals, 28-year-old Kyle Catherwood, 28-year-old Mariah King, 55-year-old David McNiven and 32-year-old Keiryn Jacobs all received multiple drug possession related charges including possession for the purpose of distributing and trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.

Anyone who may have information about any crime is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or leave an anonymous online message at www.catchcrooks.com, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.