Toronto man, North Bay woman charged as police seize loaded firearm, drugs

Two people are charged after North Bay police seized a loaded gun during a drug investigation last week.

A 25-year-old Toronto man and a 32-year-old North Bay woman were arrested last week after police seized a loaded handgun, drugs, and cash during an investigation.

The two accused face multiple charges, including possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, unauthorized possession of a firearm, and possession of proceeds of crime along with four other weapon-related offences. The Toronto man is additionally charged with three counts of drug trafficking and breaching a firearm probation order, while the woman faces an extra charge for breaching a release order.

The North Bay Police Service began investigating this past winter after receiving reports of illegal drug trafficking from residences on Regina Street and Worthington Street East.

On May 15, officers executed simultaneous search warrants at two units on Worthington Street East.

As a result of the searches, authorities seized:

• a loaded Glock 19 handgun,
• 14 rounds of ammunition,
• 52.9 grams of cocaine,
• 25 grams of crack cocaine,
• 1.5 grams of fentanyl and
• $1,020 in cash.

“The (total) value of the seized drugs and cash was approximately $9,110,” police said in a news release Wednesday.

Northern Ontario not immune to crime

Insp. Scott McFarlane of North Bay’s criminal investigations unit stated that smaller northern communities are not immune to criminal activity spreading from the Greater Toronto Area.

“Crime has no borders, and with the increase and prevalence of firearms, dangerous individuals, and powerful drugs, particularly opiates and their various derivatives, it is imperative that policing agencies work in partnership to fight this type of criminal activity,” he said in the news release.

North Bay police urged residents to report suspicious activity to police or Crime Stoppers.

Both accused were held in custody pending a bail hearing.