The Kingston Police CORE Unit arrested two people and took deadly fentanyl off the streets during two separate undercover operations on June 26 in Kingston, Ontario.
The first arrest happened around 10:00 a.m. near Montreal Street and Rideau Street. Officers in an unmarked vehicle spotted a 34-year-old Kingston man who was known to police and had an outstanding warrant. He tried to get away on a bicycle, but officers stopped him quickly. A search turned up about 24.5 grams of fentanyl and a quantity of Canadian cash. He was charged with possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking and possessing property obtained by crime under $5,000.
Less than three hours later, at about 12:50 p.m., the same unit was near Clergy Street and Princess Street when officers saw what looked like an illegal drug exchange. A 40-year-old Kingston man tried to hide items in his clothing as police approached. After his arrest, officers found fentanyl, Dilaudid (hydromorphone), and morphine on him. He was charged with three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possessing property obtained by crime under $5,000.
Both men were taken to Kingston Police headquarters at 705 Division Street and held for bail hearings.
The CORE Unit, which stands for Community-Oriented Response and Enforcement, handles everything from community outreach to proactive safety and enforcement. It includes beat-bicycle officers, school resource officers, youth officers, community officers, police liaison teams, the media relations office, and the traffic safety unit.
A/Inspector Hilliker of Kingston Police called the arrests an example of the targeted work officers do daily to keep the community safe. “By identifying and disrupting drug trafficking activity, our officers are helping prevent harm and improving community well-being,” Hilliker said. “We remain committed to removing illegal drugs from our streets and holding those responsible accountable.”
The operations focused on fentanyl, a drug that continues to fuel the opioid crisis in Canada. In 2025, fentanyl was involved in 56 percent of apparent opioid toxicity deaths across the country, according to federal data. Kingston Police encourage anyone with information about suspicious drug activity to come forward.
