Fake guns, suspected drugs seized in northwestern Ont. raid

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Northwestern Ont. drug bust yields fake firearms, cash, charges

Thunder Bay drug bust nets imitation firearms, cocaine, more

Two individuals are facing multiple charges after a joint police investigation led to the seizure of imitation firearms, drugs, and other prohibited items in Thunder Bay and Fort William First Nation.

Investigation and raid

In June 2025, the Ontario Provincial Police-led Provincial Guns and Gangs Enforcement Team, alongside the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service and the Anishinabek Police Service, launched an intelligence-led probe into alleged drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession in the region.

On July 30, 2025, officers executed a search warrant on Fort William First Nation with support from the OPP emergency response team and canine unit.

Items seized

During the search, police seized:

• 45 grams of suspected cocaine,
• 110 grams of suspected crack cocaine,
• 650 grams of a cutting agent,
• six imitation firearms,
• one prohibited weapon (nunchaku),
• ammunition,
• four cell phones,
• digital scales,
• $1,500 in cash and
• a 2010 Ford Escape, deemed offence-related property

“The drugs seized have an estimated street value $12,800,“ said OPP spokesperson Angie Sloan, in an email to CTV News on Wednesday.

Two face charges

As a result of the investigation, a 40-year-old woman from Fort William First Nation faces 15 charges, including:

• Drug trafficking,
• possession of proceeds of property,
• possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose,
• unauthorized possession of a weapon,
• two counts of careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device, or ammunition,
• operation while prohibited,
• failure to comply with a release order and
• seven counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to a prohibition order

She was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in court in Thunder Bay on Aug. 13.

A 25-year-old Thunder Bay man was also charged with drug trafficking and failing to comply with a release order. He remains in custody and is set to appear in court on Aug. 12.

Police urge anyone with information on illegal firearms or drug-related crimes to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.