Sault Ste. Marie police have arrested and charged three individuals from southern Ontario following a drug bust that netted fentanyl and cocaine with an estimated street value exceeding $172,250. The suspects, two from Kitchener and one from Ottawa, now face multiple drug trafficking charges.
Details of the raid
According to a police statement released Wednesday, officers executed a search warrant at a residence in the 200 block of Queen Street East on Tuesday afternoon. During the search, police discovered approximately 1.7 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and 200 grams of suspected cocaine, along with drug packaging materials and cash.
The estimated street value of the seized drugs is $172,250, police said. Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid linked to numerous overdose deaths in the region.
Charges laid
Police have charged a 33-year-old Kitchener man with possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of property obtained by crime. A 28-year-old Kitchener woman faces the same charges. An Ottawa man, 36, was charged with possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
All three suspects were held in custody pending a bail hearing, police said. Their names have not been released to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
Impact on community
Sault Ste. Marie Police Service spokesperson Constable John Smith said the seizure represents a significant blow to the local drug trade. “This operation has removed a substantial quantity of dangerous drugs from our streets,” Smith said. “Fentanyl in particular poses a serious risk to public health and safety.”
The investigation is ongoing, and police are urging anyone with information to contact the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
