Members of the Muskoka Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU)—a blended force made up of members from both the Bracebridge and Huntsville OPP detachments—appeared before Huntsville Council at its May 27 meeting to update councillors on the unit’s work.
The unit is made up of four detective constables and one detective sergeant and is dedicated to enforcing and suppressing organized crime in the District of Muskoka explained Detective Sergeant Brandon Deniet, who was accompanied by Detective Staff Sergeant Caleb Denbok, operations manager for street crime in communities in the Central Region.
Council heard that the CSCU’s primary duties involve the investigation of gang-related crimes as they pertain to firearms, violence, and drugs, according to Deniet. He gave council an overview of opioid-related deaths and drug trafficking. He said according to data from the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit, opioid-related deaths were at their highest during the pandemic, particularly in 2021. Deniet said that the trend has been steadily decreasing.
In 2021, there were 59 incidents of death or non-fatal overdoses in the Huntsville and Lake of Bays area. So far, in 2024, there have been six incidents.
The amount of fentanyl being seized is also on the rise. Deniet said this year, the CSCU seized four times the amount of fentanyl it seized last year. “So the seizures are going up, which is significant, and thankfully, we’re also seeing the death rate come down… which is a very, very positive impact in terms of public safety within the District of Muskoka and specifically here in Huntsville.”
Council heard that in the past three years, CSCU has been involved in 950 incidents, and 700 charges have been laid. Deniet said more than 4.7 kilograms of cocaine and 2,200 grams of fentanyl have been taken off the streets of Muskoka. He said the fentanyl seized is equivalent to 22,000 doses, based on the consumption of the average user, which is a significant amount.
He also told council that in the past three years, a number of guns, particularly handguns, have been taken off the streets of Muskoka. Councillor Monty Clouthier wanted to know how much of the drug trafficking and illegal arms crime was coming from outside of Muskoka. Deniet said the majority of the crime has been linked to gangs in the Greater Toronto Area who target smaller communities like Huntsville, Lake of Bays, and Muskoka in general.
That’s good news, said Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock. She seemed to be glad the majority of gang-related crime was coming from outside the area.
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John Styles says
Mayor Alcock “seemed to be glad the majority of gang-related crime was coming from outside the area.” As was mentioned gangs from the GTA area.
How is this ‘good news.’ This is terrible news. We are being infiltrated by criminals from outside Muskoka and if you look at the photos and backgrounds of the GTA criminal gangs they too are recent imports now targeting vehicles for theft and export. Guns and drugs are only one aspect of their operations.
It’s been long known that drugs in Muskoka were controlled by that notorious ‘motorcycle gang.’ Nothing seems to happen to them. They also control stolen vehicles going through the port of Montreal.
Thr cereal government seems to react only when the public is up in arms and makes a stink. Vehicle thefts and exports have been going on for decades and nothing was done until recently. Politicians did not care. Border security is non existent.