On Saturday, August 30, 2025, at approximately 12:00 p.m. uniform members of the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) assigned to 2 District (Niagara Falls/Niagara-on-the-Lake) responded to a commercial plaza located in the area of Portage Road and Colborne Street for an assistance call.
The initial call originated from a commercial unit reporting an odour coming from an adjacent business. The Niagara Falls Fire Department responded and detected unusually high levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). Further investigation by firefighters led to the discovery of what appeared to be a clandestine drug laboratory.
As a result, detectives with the NRPS assigned to the Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET) took carriage of the investigation. On Sunday, August 31, 2025, detectives received judicial authorization to execute a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant at the associated commercial unit and a related vehicle.
As a result of the investigation detectives seized the following:
1,020.4 grams of suspected Crystal Methamphetamine (Value: $18,000) 84.4 grams of suspected Crack Cocaine (Value: $8400) 73.2 grams of suspected Cocaine (Value: $7300) 15.9 grams of suspected MDMA (Value: $160) $10,530 in Canadian Currency
On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, detectives located, arrested and charged Kristopher BURNETT-ACKERMAN, (32 years) of Niagara Falls, with the following criminal code offences:
Production of a Schedule I Substance (Crack Cocaine) Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Crystal Methamphetamine) Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Crack Cocaine) Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine) Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (MDMA) Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
BURNETT-ACKERMAN remains in custody and is scheduled to attend a bail hearing Thursday, September 4, 2025, via video link to the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in St. Catharines.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Clandestine Lab Investigation Response Team (CLIRT) was requested to assist with the safe dismantling of the site.
This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 905-688-4111, dial option 3, extension 1008894.
Members of the community who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to people who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.