THUNDER BAY — An investigation by Thunder Bay police and the OPP has led to the arrests of eight people from southern Ontario and the city and the seizure of suspected fentanyl and cocaine.
According to a release by Thunder Bay police on Wednesday, six of the arrests happened in two separate busts at homes on Picton Avenue and Donald Street on Tuesday. Two others were arrested while travelling in a vehicle on Highway 11-17 east of Thunder Bay the same day.
City police said they also seized quantities of substances suspected to be cocaine and fentanyl, along with cash and other items that police said are consistent with drug trafficking activity.
Thunder Bay, again, had the province's highest per-capita rate of deaths due to opioid overdoses in 2024. Fentanyl was responsible for almost all of them, public health officials in the city said.
A 20-year-old from Toronto and a 23-year-old from Scarborough were charged with possessing cocaine and fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking, and having property obtained by crime over $5,000.
Three others — two from southern Ontario and one from Thunder Bay — were charged with possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and having property obtained by crime under $5,000.
And a 19-year-old from Pickering, a 26-year-old from Oshawa and a 50-year-old from Thunder Bay were charged with possessing fentanyl and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and having property obtained by crime under $5,000.
All eight accused were in court Wednesday and remain in custody with future court dates.
It is Newswatch policy not to name people facing criminal accusations when we are unlikely to follow the case to its conclusion in the courts.
