(THUNDER BAY, ON) A drug trafficking investigation in Thunder Bay has resulted in the arrest of two individuals from Nova Scotia.
On October 10, 2024, a search warrant was executed at a residence on South Creek Square in Thunder Bay by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-led Provincial Joint Forces Guns and Gangs Enforcement Team (PGNG), OPP Canine, the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) and Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS), with assistance from the TBPS Emergency Tactical Unit (ETU) and members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
As a result of the search warrant, investigators seized:
More than $70,000 in Canadian currency
Approximately five grams of suspected cocaine
Three oxycodone tablets
Three cell phones
A digital scale
Packaging material
A gold chain and bracelet
A luxury watch
Matthew CATER, age 37 of Halifax, Nova Scotia and NaTaejin SMITH, age 18 of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia have each been charged with the following three offences contrary to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Criminal Code:
Possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine
Possession for the purpose of trafficking oxycodone
Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000
The accused are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay on November 19, 2024.
The OPP would like to thank the TBPS, NAPS and the RCMP for their support of the PGNG program.
Anyone with any information about illegal firearms or the possession, manufacturing or trafficking of illicit drugs should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.