A drug-trafficking investigation in Thunder Bay has led to the seizure of roughly $836,000 worth of illegal drugs and a gun.
Four Thunder Bay residents and one person from Ajax are facing a total of 35 charges.
The investigation was started in late 2024 by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-led Provincial Guns and Gangs Enforcement Team (PGNG).
Officers were looking into alleged drug trafficking between the Greater Toronto Area and Thunder Bay.
On May 8, officers searched two vehicles and three homes in the community.
During the searches, the following items with approximate quantities were seized:
- 7.2 kg of suspected cocaine
- 1 kg of suspected methamphetamine
- 2.8 grams of suspected fentanyl
- 295 oxycodone tablets
- 4 lbs of dried illegal cannabis
- 280 cannabis vape pens
- 25 vials of hash oil
- Loaded firearm
- $126,260 in cash
- 8 cell phones
The estimated street value of the drugs seized is $836,000.
As a result, a 34-year-old from Thunder Bay is facing 12 charges, including:
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order
- Careless storage of a firearm
- Possession of a loaded or prohibited restricted firearm
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
- Knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Possession of proceeds obtained by crime over $5,000
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking – methamphetamine
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking – fentanyl
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking – oxycodone
- Possession for the purpose of distribution – cannabis
As a result, a 30-year-old from Thunder Bay is facing 11 charges, including:
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Careless storage of a firearm
- Possession of a loaded or prohibited restricted firearm
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
- Knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Possession of proceeds obtained by crime over $5,000
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking – methamphetamine
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking – fentanyl
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking – oxycodone
- Possession for the purpose of distribution – cannabis
As a result, a 26-year-old from Ajax is facing six charges, including:
- Possession of proceeds obtained by crime over $5,000
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine
- Trafficking – cocaine
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking – methamphetamine
- Trafficking – methamphetamine
- Possession for the purpose of distribution – cannabis
As a result, a 35-year-old from Thunder Bay is facing three charges, including:
- Possession of proceeds obtained by crime over $5,000
- Trafficking in property obtained by crime
- Possession for the purpose of distribution
As a result, a 26-year-old from Thunder Bay is facing three charges, including:
- Possession of proceeds obtained by crime over $5,000
- Trafficking in property obtained by crime
- Possession for the purpose of distribution
The 34-year-old and 30-year-old from Thunder Bay and the 26-year-old from Ajax remain in custody with future court dates.
The 35-year-old and 26-year-old from Thunder Bay have both been released from custody with future court dates.
