Three women face drug trafficking charges after northwestern Ont. police raids

A Nishnawbe Aski Police Service vehicle is shown in this undated image. (File photo/Nishnawbe Aski Police Service/Facebook)

First Nation police have seized nearly $150,000 worth of cocaine and crack cocaine following the search of two homes in a remote northwestern Ontario community this week

Members of the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service executed search warrants at two residential addresses in Nibinamik First Nation on March 9.

“The search warrants were obtained as a result of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking within the community,” police said in a release.

Three suspects were identified and taken into custody at the scene without incident.

Following their search, police said officers located and seized a quantity of suspected cocaine and crack cocaine along with cash and drug trafficking paraphernalia.

“The estimated street value of drugs seized totals more than $147,000,” said police.

As a result, three women have each been charged with drug trafficking and possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime – a 45-year-old from Winnipeg, along with locals ages 32 and 35, face the charges.

“The names of suspects are withheld until charges against them have been sworn in before the courts,” said Nishnawbe Aski police.

The Winnipeg woman appeared for a bail hearing on March 10 and was remanded into custody with a future court date. The other two suspects have been released from custody with conditions and a future court date.

These arrests come only days a joint police operation charged three people with drug trafficking as part of an ongoing investigation of drugs entering the remote community from Thunder Bay.