A 27-year-old Thunder Bay man is in custody facing drug charges after police seized 6.5 kilograms of marijuana from two boxes allegedly found in his 2004 pick-up truck.
James Allan Maki, who has a previous drug conviction, is charged with trafficking marijuana, possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of proceeds of crime and breach of probation.
Police also seized the vehicle as evidence-related property, then later executed a search warrant of Maki’s residence, where a 26-year-old female was arrested.
The search resulted in the seizure of $3,400 in cash and an additional 95 grams of pot. A subsequent search netted $48,000 in cash
Police estimated the street value of the marijuana at well over $100,000.
"If it was grammed out, the street value would be a little over $131,000," said Staff Sgt. Murray Brown.
Maki, who appeared on court, was released on his own recognizance and will return to court in Thunder Bay on Feb. 14.
The female, who was not named by police, is facing a single charge of possession of a controlled substance and is expected in court on Feb. 28.
Brown said the bust should have a significant impact on the drug trade in Thunder Bay.
"This person is what investigators believe to be a mid-level dealer. We've been targeting mid-level dealers in recent years," Brown said.
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