$700,000 in cash and 8 million in drugs seized.

DRUG WARRANTS RESULT IN MULTIPLE CHARGES / MAJOR SEIZURES

(WEST NIPISSING, ON) – On September 15, 2021, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) members from Sudbury’s and North Bay’s Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB), North East Region Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU), North East Region Emergency Response Team (ERT), Central and Western Regions Tactical Response Units (TRU), North East Region Canine Unit (K9), North East Region Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit (PAFU), Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team and North East Region Critical Incident Command (CIC), executed Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) search warrants at two separate residences in the Municipality of West Nipissing.

A search of both residences led to the seizure of one firearm with ammunition, two crossbows, drug paraphernalia, packing materials, residential and financial documents, over $700,000 in Canadian currency, drugs suspected to be: cannabis in various stages of production, various consumable products containing cannabis, cocaine, and methamphetamine tablets. The value of the drugs seized is believed to be over $8,000,000.

As a result of the investigation:

Marc AYOTTE, 33-years-of-age from West Nipissing was arrested and charged with:

Cultivate, propagate or harvest more than four cannabis plants, contrary to section 12(4)(b) of the Cannabis Act (CA)
Possession for the purpose of distributing, contrary to section 9(2) of the CA
Possessing cannabis for the purpose of selling, contrary to section 10(2) of the CA
Careless storage of Firearm, Weapon, Prohibited device or ammunition, contrary to section 86(1) of the Criminal Code (CC)
Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of Firearm, contrary to section 92(1) of the CC
Possession of a Schedule I Substance – Methamphetamine, contrary to section 4(1) of the Controlled Drug Substance Act (CDSA)
Possession of a Schedule III Substance, contrary to section 4(1) of the CDSA

The accused was released on an Undertaking and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on November 4, 2021, in West Nipissing.

Douglas HINES, 48-years-of-age from River Valley, was arrested and charged with:

Possession Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 – in Canada, contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the CC
Possession of Firearm or Ammunition contrary to Prohibition Order, contrary to section 117.01(1) of the CC
Possessing cannabis for the purpose of selling, contrary to section 10(2) of the CA
Possession for the purpose of distributing, contrary to section 9(2) of the CA

The accused was released on an Undertaking and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on November 4, 2021, in West Nipissing.

Zsanett PERGER, 41-years-of-age from River Valley, was issued a summons with charges of:

Possessing cannabis for the purpose of selling, contrary to section 10(2) of the CA
Possession for the purpose of distributing, contrary to section 9(2) of the CA
Possession Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 – in Canada, contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the CC

The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on November 4, 2021, in West Nipissing.