Ottawa, North Bay police investigation leads to seizure of $116K in cocaine and purple fentanyl

Three people from the Ottawa area are facing drug trafficking-related charges after police uncovered large amounts of suspected purple fentanyl and cocaine in vehicles travelling through North Bay.

Two vehicles were stopped in North Bay on February 28, as a result of a joint investigation involving the Ottawa Police Service's Drugs and Street Crime Unit, the Ontario Provincial Police's (OPP) Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau and the North Bay Police Service's Street Crime Unit, called 'Project Northern Lights.'

The street value of the found drugs is estimated to be over $116,000.

Abel Solano-Santana, 42, of Ottawa, has been charged with the following:

• Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine contrary to section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA);
• Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Other Drugs contrary to section 5(2) of the CDSA; and
• Failure to Comply with Release Order contrary to section 145(5)(a) of the Criminal Code (CC).

The accused was remanded into custody pending bail and is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in North Bay on March 4, 2021.

Nadine Stanley, 35, of Carp, has been charged with the following:

• Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine contrary to section 5(2) of the CDSA; and
• Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Other Drugs contrary to section 5(2) of the CDSA.

The accused was remanded into custody pending bail and is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in North Bay on March 2, 2021.

Samantha Stanley, 28, of Ottawa, has been charged with the following:

• Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine contrary to section 5(2) of the CDSA;
• Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Other Drugs contrary to section 5(2) of the CDSA; and
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000 contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the CC.

The accused was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in North Bay on April 6, 2021.