Three southern Ontario men and one from Manitoulin Island are facing multiple drug-related charges following a traffic stop in Espanola on Sunday evening by Manitoulin OPP patrol.
Constable Jessica Gilbertson says around 10:30 p.m., Sunday night, officers stopped a vehicle due to a Highway Traffic Act violation.
She says officers could smell cannabis and decided to conduct a search of the vehicle and the four occupants, finding a loaded handgun, around $7,000 in cash, approximately 195 grams of suspected cocaine, and suspected hydromorphone and oxycodone pills with an estimated street value of $29,000.
Gilbertson says all four were arrested and face various drug-related and weapons charges.
All four were held in custody to appear in Sudbury Bail Court.
Charges: As a result of the investigation, a 22-year-old from Thornhill has been charged with:
Possession of a prohibited device for a dangerous purpose
Transport firearm in a careless manner
Carrying concealed weapon
Unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm
Occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was prohibited weapon
Possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition
Possession of a loaded prohibited firearm
Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – three counts
Failure to comply with undertaking – two counts
A 21-year-old from M’Chigeeng First Nation has been charged with:
Possession of a prohibited device for a dangerous purpose
Transport firearm in a careless manner
Carry concealed prohibited device
Unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm
Occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was prohibited weapon
Possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition
Possession of a loaded prohibited firearm
Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – three counts
Failure to comply with undertaking – five counts
A 22-year-old from Toronto has been charged with:
Possession of a prohibited device for a dangerous purpose
Transport firearm in a careless manner
Carrying concealed weapon
Unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm
Occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was prohibited weapon
Possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition
Possession of a loaded prohibited firearm
Possession of firearm contrary to Prohibition Order
Fail to comply with Probation Order – two counts
Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – three counts
Drive vehicle with cannabis readily available
Drive motor vehicle, no current validated permit
And a 23-year-old from London has been charged with:
Possession of a prohibited device for a dangerous purpose
Transport firearm in a careless manner
Carrying concealed weapon
Unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm
An occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was prohibited weapon
Possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition
Possession of a loaded prohibited firearm
Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – three counts
Possess more than one licence
