$83,000 of Fentanyl and Loaded Handgun Seized by Street Crime Unit

By Niagara Regional Police Service - Aug 26, 2026

Media Releases

In August of 2026, the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) 2 District (Niagara Falls/Niagara-on-the-Lake) Street Crime Unit (SCU) began an investigation into the trafficking of controlled substances in the City of Niagara Falls. Detectives observed a male suspect exhibiting behaviour consistent with the illegal trafficking of drugs.

Detectives applied for and were subsequently granted a search warrant for a hotel room on Lundy’s Lane in Niagara Falls. On August 25, 2026, the male suspect was arrested on Main Street in Niagara Falls. Detectives executed the search warrant and arrested female within the hotel room. The following items were seized:

833 grams suspected fentanyl (street value of $83,000)
Glock 36 Handgun with four rounds of ammunition
$6000 in Canadian currency

30-year-old Antonio IULIANI of No Fixed Abode is charged with the following criminal offences:

Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
Careless Storage of a Firearm
Possession of Restricted Firearm Without Holding a License
Possession of Restricted Firearm Knowingly Not Holding a License
Possession of Loaded Regulated Firearm
Possession of Firearm Contrary to a Prohibition Order
Fail to Comply with Probation Order
Possession of a Schedule I Substance for Trafficking (Fentanyl)

34-year-old Ashley LEPERA of No Fixed Abode is charged with the following criminal offences:

Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
Careless Storage of a Firearm
Possession of Restricted Firearm Without Holding a License
Possession of Restricted Firearm Knowingly Not Holding a License
Possession of Loaded Regulated Firearm
Fail to Comply with Probation Order
Possession of a Schedule I Substance for Trafficking (Fentanyl)

IULIANI and LEPERA remain in custody and are scheduled to attend a bail hearing on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in St Catharines.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service at (905) 688-4111, option 3, extension 1009705.

Members of the community who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477(TIPS). Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to people who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.

NRPS Incident #26-107287