The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has completed a drug investigation in Burlington that ended with multiple arrests, more than a dozen charges, and significant gun and drug seizures.

Project Oyster was a lengthy investigation conducted by the 3 District (Burlington) Street Crime Unit with the assistance of multiple units within the HRPS, the Hamilton Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police.

On February 15, 2024, police executed warrants at addresses in Burlington, Hamilton, Beamsville and Grimsby. As a result of those warrants, officers seized more than five kilograms of cocaine and three loaded handguns (see attached photos). The three handguns were located by police in custom built hidden compartments inside of three vehicles also seized by police.   

The items seized include:

  • 5.75 Kilograms of Cocaine;
  • 45 Kilograms of Cutting Agents;
  • 1 Cocaine Press;
  • 3 Loaded Glock Handguns with Serial Numbers Removed;
  • 85 Oxycodone Pills;
  • 75 Rounds of Ammunition;
  • 28 Grams of Psilocybin;
  • Approximately $30,000 in CAN currency.

On February 15, three male suspects were also arrested.

Stephen Papadopoulos (44) of Hamilton has been charged with the following:

  • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (2 counts)
  • Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
  • Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in a Vehicle
  • Possession of a Prohibited Firearm with Ammunition
  • Possession of Firearm, Ammunition Contrary to Probation Order (2 counts)
  • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000

Kim Hay Heng (38) of Beamsville has been charged with the following:

  • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (3 counts)
  • Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm (2 counts)
  • Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in a Vehicle (2 counts)
  • Possession of a Prohibited Device
  • Possession of Firearm, Ammunition Contrary to Probation Order (2 counts)
  • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5000

Frank Pearlman (35) of Grimsby has been charged with the following:

  • Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (2 counts)

All three suspects were held in custody pending a bail hearing in Milton.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2316.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. "See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers" at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.

Media Inquiries:

Halton Regional Police Service
Media Relations
Phone: 905-825-4899
Email: corpcomm@haltonpolice.ca

 

Seized Items