8 people arrested by Guelph police in crackdown on public drug use
Posted Jun 18, 2026 01:20:02 PM.
Last Updated Jun 18, 2026 01:58:42 PM.
Guelph police dispersed around the city’s downtown area on Wednesday in a patrol initiative cracking down on public illicit drug use.
The Guelph Police Service said it follows a health-first approach when dealing with addiction, trying to connect individuals with supports when possible.
They say all the individuals arrested on Wednesday had their substances confiscated and were offered information on supports.
Police mentioned three people specifically, two men and a woman, who were arrested after officers spotted them smoking from a pipe, out in the open. Police say children and vulnerable community members were in the vicinity.
People using drugs in Guelph’s downtown core has been a growing issue for several years.
In 2023, Guelph police launched a supplemental staffing initiative which dedicates extra officers to the downtown daily.
Crime
