Sudbury traffic stop leads to arrests, seizure of thousands in suspected cocaine

Impaired driving increased in Sudbury last year Sudbury police say there was a 5% increase in impaired driving offences in 2023 with more than 300 impaired driving charges laid.

Sudbury police say a vehicle travelling a major city road with no lights on that was pulled over was carrying a large quantity of what they believe to be cocaine.

At around 2 a.m. on June 28, members of the Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) observed a vehicle with no lights travelling south on Regent Street, according to a news release.

“Officers initiated the emergency lights on their police cruiser to conduct a traffic stop,” said police.

“Once the vehicle in question came to a complete stop, the occupants began moving around vigorously causing the vehicle to shake.”

Officers then approached both the driver and passenger sides of the vehicle to speak with the occupants of the vehicle. While speaking with them, police said they could see open alcohol in the vehicle’s centre console. As a result of the open alcohol, the occupants were asked by officers to get out of the vehicle and provide identification.

“While speaking to the individuals outside the vehicle, it was determined that one of the individuals had provided false identification and the individual was placed under arrest for Obstruct Police(sic),” reads the release.

“Officers then noticed the individual was attempting to conceal what was believed to be a substantial amount of drugs.”

GSPS members informed all three individuals they were being placed under arrest for possession for the purpose of trafficking – at which point one of the suspects attempted to flee the scene on foot.

“After a short foot pursuit, the individual was taken into custody,” said police.

“While running from the officers, the individual discarded a bag containing what was believed to be additional drugs.”

As a result of the investigation, officers seized more than 132 grams of suspected cocaine. Police said they estimate the value of the drugs seized as $13,220.

GSPS charged a 30-year-old man, a 31-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman with drug trafficking. The men were both also charged with possession of property obtained by crime and failing to comply with probation orders. The 31-year-old faces an additional charge of resisting a peace officer as a result of his attempt to flee. The woman who provided the fake ID was charged with obstructing a peace officer in addition to the drug trafficking charge.

All of the accused were held in custody pending a bail hearing.

None of the accusations has been proven in court.