THUNDER BAY - One of three individuals accused of running a drug supply house in Thunder Bay has learned she will not be released from custody while awaiting trial.
Verdiana Lama, 20, of Mississauga was arrested and charged by Thunder Bay police on June 3 after officers executed a drug search warrant at a house on Van Norman Street.
Officers seized a total street value of drugs estimated at nearly $400,000 which included fentanyl, crack cocaine as well as approximately $150,000 in cash, a handgun and drug trafficking paraphernalia.
Police also stated this was the largest single fentanyl seizure ever in the police service's history.
On Thursday, June 18, federal crown counsel Misbah Haque took approximately an hour outlining the evidence surrounding Lama’s case at her bail hearing.
The information and evidence discussed at the proceeding are protected by a court-ordered publication ban. Justice of the Peace Denette Ellard’s reasons for detaining Lama are also bound by the ban on publication.
Lama was arrested alongside Didier Denzel Kongolo, 21, of Toronto and Janneka Lauren Martinez, 24 of Manchester, England. Both co-accused remain in custody since their arrest.
Police allege the Van Norman Street residence where the drug bust occurred on June 3 was a drug supply house and the individuals residing there were supplying trap houses across the city.
Police say they began observing the residence in October 2019.
Lama is scheduled to appear back in court on July 9 by audio.
