57 people charged after open-air drug market bust in Hamilton

The Toronto Sun is reporting that "Hamilton Police say they’ve shut down an open-air drug market targeting vulnerable people after a five-week project that saw 57 arrests and 103 charges laid."

"Cops say that during project Open Air, 11 of the 57 accused were rearrested at least once and three of those 11 were arrested three times. Officers also seized 45 grams of crack cocaine, 116 grams of cannabis, 81 grams of methamphetamine, and 118 grams of fentanyl."

"Police allege the operation operated over the past few years at King St. and East Ave. and was run by Vincent Asanti, who was arrested for two controlled drugs and substance act offences (cocaine) and proceeds over $5,000 while $51,351.90 was seized from his residences and vehicle."

"Authorities say the area has been the subject of numerous community complaints because of alleged drug dealing and petty crime and called it a sophisticated operation that preyed on multiple vulnerable people.” Kind of like the DTES. 

"Police say the market appeared to be run like a business with multiple roles and shift changes including lookouts, runners and drug traffickers." That's how it normally how it works. 

Well done. This kind of bust wouldn't seize a large amount of drugs but is very important because as they said, they have runners that keep reloading them with more drugs so they don't get caught with a large amount all at once. This is confronting street level drug trafficking which is essential. As the article said, the bust came after community complaints of increased crime. When you allow drugs to be sold public ally violent crime in that area increases. It is directly related.

“'These markets have an impact on the surrounding community, fostering feelings of insecurity, increasing the risk of crime and deterring businesses and residents from fully engaging with the area,' said Hamilton Police Insp. Jim Callender in a statement."

“By addressing these issues, we aim to restore safety and rebuild trust in the affected neighbourhoods.” Exactly!