Ottawa man arrested after police seize multiple handguns, drugs at traffic stop

An Ottawa man is facing nearly two dozen charges after police seized a handgun and drugs at a traffic stop.

On Sept. 7, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-led Provincial Joint Forces Guns and Gangs Enforcement Team (PGNG) and the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) issued a search warrant resulting in over $2,000 in Canadian currency and suspect cocaine.

Police began their investigation in August 2023.

An Ottawa man is facing a number of charges after police found a handgun, drugs and Canadian currency during a traffic stop on Sept. 7, 2023. Photo/OPP

On Sept. 7, police arrested 24-year-old Yousuf Nabi at a traffic stop and seized:

• A loaded handgun with a prohibited magazine
• More than 30 rounds of ammunition
• More than 300 grams of suspected cocaine
• Over $2,000 in Canadian currency

The man also faces numerous charges including:

• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm
• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited device
• Possession of a loaded firearm
• Breach of firearms regulation (careless storage of ammunition) – two counts
• Possession of a firearm knowing that it was obtained by the commission of an offence
• Possession of a firearm knowing that the serial number had been altered, defaced or removed
• Possession of a firearm while prohibited from doing so by an order pursuant to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act – two counts
• Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000

The accused was on parole, after being convicted of discharging a firearm with intent in 2021. The conditions of his release included two firearm prohibitions.

The accused was remanded into custody and will appear before an Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa on Sept. 15, 2023.