14 charged in connection with trafficking prescription drugs

Fourteen people in Mississauga face 120 charges in connection with an alleged prescription drug fraud scheme.

Police said Thursdaythey launched an investigation into the illegal distribution offentanyl, oxycodone and oxycocet pills last May, and say they "observed activities consistent with drug trafficking."

Police allege the suspects obtained the drugs by falsifying prescriptions, using personal information from friends. The fake prescriptions were then faxed to pharmacies, police say, adding that "the suspects took steps to authenticate the prescriptions to avoid detection by pharmacists.

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"Those behind the scheme enlisted their close associates to pick up the drugs from the pharmacies based on pre-arranged schedules," police said in a statement.

The 14 people have been charged with a total of 120 combined offences, including trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking, fraud, possession of property obtained by crime, and firearms offences.

Police say they seized nearly 6,000 oxycodone and oxycocet pills, 318 fentanyl patches, cocaine, marijuana, an assault rifle, and nearly $30,000 in cash.

The total street-value of the seized drugs is estimated to be $213,697.00