Mountain pharmacy owner charged in drug trafficking ‘conspiracy’: RCMP

The RCMP has laid additional charges against people who were allegedly part of a drug trafficking “conspiracy” linked to a Mountain pharmacy, where hundreds of thousands of prescription pills were sold on the black market.

“This investigation has uncovered a scheme that saw the diversion of more than 400,000 doses of a variety of pharmaceutical narcotics from the legitimate supply chain to the black market,” the RCMP said Monday in a news release.

These charges are connected to initial charges that were laid in May of last year. The RCMP said at that time that the investigation was into the diversion of opioids and synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

Police say 41-year-old Angelo Kirkopolous, who the RCMP has identified in past news releases as a part owner of Mt Cross Pharmacy on the Mountain, is now facing several additional charges, including three counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

He has also been charged with possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000 and 10 counts of trafficking a controlled substance.

Police say that on Friday, two other men were arrested in connection with the case.

Burford, Ont. man Nick Monasteridis is now facing charges of conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance, as is 32-year-old Mississauga man Hans Lauro.

Both men appeared in court in Hamilton on Friday.

“This issue of illicit opioids remains a top concern for the RCMP and we remain committed to collaborating with our partners to actively pursue the criminal networks that are jeopardizing the health and well-being of our citizens,” said Insp. Ann Koenig, the officer in charge of the RCMP’s Hamilton-Niagara Regional detachment.