Licence plate reading technology helps Ottawa police make Gloucester drug bust

By Mike Vlasveld

The Ottawa Police Service has arrested and charged a 26-year-old man after an officer used an Automated Licence Plate Reader in Gloucester to spot a car's plate not registered to the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.

The officer was patrolling the area near Blair Road and Innes Road around 12:45 p.m., Tuesday, when he stopped the vehicle and noticed a strong scent of fresh marijuana during the initial interaction with the driver.

Police seized the vehicles licence plate, a 'very large amount' of marijuana, Canadian currency, and drug paraphernalia.

Hassan El Bairam, of Ottawa, was charged with:

  • Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime
  • Possession for the purpose of selling cannabis
  • Distribution of cannabis
  • Use plate not authorized for vehicle (HTA)
  • Fail to notify change of address-licence  (HTA)
  • Fail to surrender permit for motor vehicle  (HTA)
  • Fail to surrender insurance card (CAIA)

He attended show cause court Thursday.

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