THUNDER BAY -- A city man has pleaded not guilty to several drug-trafficking charges.
The trial for John Harry Tsekouras, 40, who is facing charges relating to trafficking cocaine and marijuana in June 2011, began at the Thunder Bay Courthouse Wednesday morning.
The accused was arraigned and entered pleas of not guilty on all eight counts.
The Thunder Bay Police Service initially arrested Tsekouras in April 2012 as part of Project Dolphin, a joint investigation between multiple police forces into the local drug trade. Police also alleged Tsekouras was the head of a criminal organization.
A publication ban was placed on all evidence on April 8, 2014 and it will continue until the trial is complete.
The trial is scheduled to last until Dec. 12 and the Crown has subpoenaed 29 witnesses.
Tsekouras was also charged in June 2013 with conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to kidnap. A trial for those charges has not yet been scheduled.
None of the allegations against the accused have been proven in court.
