Two Ottawa residents charged with drug trafficking in Thunder Bay
This past January, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-led Provincial Guns and Gangs Enforcement Team (PGNG) began a drug trafficking investigation in Thunder Bay.
The Provincial Guns and Gangs enforcement Team has been working to address criminal street gang activity through “intelligence-led, multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking investigations and reducing the number of illegal firearms in the province of Ontario,” wrote OPP in a news release.
On March 5th, investigators from OPP, Thunder Bay Police Service and Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) issued search warrants for residences on Balmoral Street and Cumberland Street North in Thunder Bay.
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According to OPP, three people have been charged with a combined 14 offences under the Criminal Code (CC) and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA).
Following drug trafficking investigations, officers seized the following items:
- Approx. 90 grams of suspected crack cocaine
- $5,100 in Canadian currency
- Nine cell phones
- Smart watch
- Fraudulent identification
- Four digital scales
- Packaging material
Two Ottawa residents have been charged with a number of CC and CDSA offences, wrote OPP.
Abdul-Rahman Barrie, 32, and Harley Jean-Baptiste, 31, have each been charged with five offences including:
- Possession of an identity document – three counts
- Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine
The accused are in police custody and are scheduled to appear in court in Thunder Bay on March 19th.
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According to police, Joel Lalonde, 33, from Lasalle, Quebec has also been charged with four offences including:
- Possession of an identity document – three counts
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine
While Lalonde has been released from custody, he is scheduled to appear in court on April 10th.
Those with information regarding illegal firearms or the possession, manufacturing or trafficking of illicit drugs should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-2- 2-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
