Hwy. 69 traffic stop leads to drug, firearm charges

Toronto man and his passenger were charged after a Highway 69 traffic stop.

A traffic stop on Highway 69 has led to weapons and drug charges for two southern Ontario men after police say they found a firearm with an over-capacity magazine in the vehicle.

Ontario Provincial Police stopped a vehicle in the Township of The Archipelago at about 11:30 p.m. on March 10 while conducting traffic enforcement.

“Officers observed a vehicle swerving and stopped the vehicle to check the sobriety of the driver,” the OPP said in a news release.

Upon approaching the vehicle, police said that officers observed cannabis readily available to the driver.

“During a subsequent search of the vehicle officers located a firearm with an over capacity magazine as well as a quantity of drugs believed to be codeine,” police said..

Multiple charges laid

As a result, the driver, a 30-year-old man from Shelburne, Ont., and his passenger, a 32-year-old man from Toronto, face multiple charges.

Both men were each charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm, possession of a firearm obtained by crime knowing its possession is unauthorized, transporting a firearm in a careless manner, along with two other weapons-related offences and drug possession.

The driver faces an additional charge of operating a motor vehicle with cannabis readily available add the passenger is also charged with three counts of failing to comply with a release order.

Both accused were held in custody pending a bail hearing in Parry Sound on March 11.