Ottawa police arrest 10 in Centretown enforcement blitz targeting drug use and disorder

Ottawa Police arrested 10 people and seized illegal drugs and weapons during a coordinated enforcement operation in Centretown on September 2, targeting open drug and alcohol use and disorderly behaviour.

Officers patrolled areas along Booth Street, Somerset Street, Bank Street, and Cooper Street, speaking with residents and businesses. They seized crack cocaine, fentanyl, and hydromorphone, along with a replica handgun and one stolen bike, which was returned to its owner.

The 10 people faced charges including possession of Schedule I substances, possession for trafficking, weapon offences, theft under $5,000, breach of probation, and obstructing police. Ottawa Police said the operation "contributed to restoring public order in several identified hotspots" and demonstrated the effectiveness of partnerships addressing neighbourhood concerns. Intelligence gathered will inform future enforcement and problem-solving initiatives.

Ottawa Police indicated this is likely not the last enforcement operation targeting Centretown. Police are working with city staff on broader quality-of-life issues in the neighbourhood. This is the latest in a series of targeted enforcement actions downtown — officers conducted a summer crackdown on July 20, arrested people in retail theft enforcement on Rideau Street on August 20, and arrested three after a targeted patrol on August 25.