Police arrest 5; seize $450k in drugs and cash

Thunder Bay Police have arrested five people and seized nearly $370,000 in drugs and $103,000 in cash following a pair of raids at residences on College Street and Simpson Street.

Officers with the TBPS’s Intelligence Unit secured search warrants for the two homes as part of an investigation into drug trafficking taking place out of those locations.

Police executed the first warrant at the College Street home at 6:35 p.m. where they located a loaded handgun which had an extended magazine, along with cash, and a significant quantity of fentanyl, cocaine, Xanax pills and Oxycodone pills.

30 minutes later officers then hit the Simpson Street residence locating a second loaded handgun, cash, cocaine and fentanyl.

The total amount of cocaine seized, according to investigators, is around three kilograms worth.

Of the five suspects arrested two are from Thunder Bay, two are from Oakville and one is from Brampton.

Detective Inspector Jeremy Pearson calls this a “sizable loss” for the drug trafficking market in Thunder Bay adding police believe the drugs seized were destined to be sold here in the city.

“This is a significant impact on the drug traffickers themselves and this will have an impact in the community. It is a sizable loss of drugs, of money and of course firearms off the streets. So there is a disruption element there.”

Pearson adds however it is a sad commentary that the size of this bust and the items seized is now common place, referencing a May 3rd seizure at a Leith Street home, which police say is not connected to this seizure.

“The purpose for this and what makes this not unusual but noteworthy i think is the impact on the community of these drugs. The fear in the community of firearms and the sheer profit that is being generated in our community.”

A 49 year old city man and an 18 year old man from Oakville have each been charged with:
• Possession of Fentanyl for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5,000
• Careless Use of a Firearm
• Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x 2
• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
• Possession of a Prohibited Device or Ammunition
• Possession of Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm

A second 18 year old from Oakville has been charged with:
• Possession of Fentanyl for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5,000
• Careless Use of a Firearm
• Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x 2
• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
• Possession of a Prohibited Device or Ammunition
• Possession of Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm
• Fail to Comply with Sentence

A 24 year old Thunder Bay woman and a 28 year old Brampton man have each been charged with:
• Possession of Fentanyl for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Oxycodone for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Alprazolam for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5,000
• Careless Use of a Firearm
• Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm x 2
• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
• Possession of a Prohibited Device or Ammunition
• Possession of Loaded Prohibited or Restricted Firearm

All five appeared in court Thursday afternoon to answer to the charges.