THUNDER BAY - The seizure of a large quantity of drugs, weapons, and money from a north side residence in Thunder Bay has raised the concern of police who say there are likely several more residences like it throughout the city.
“We know there are a number of residences in Thunder Bay out of which drugs are being sold,” said Det. Sgt. Shawn Harrison with the Intelligence Section of the Thunder Bay Police Service. “We get information almost on a daily basis that my unit looks into.”
Last Friday, Thunder Bay Police responded to a call for service at a residence on the 100 block of Ruttan Street. After officers observed drugs and weapons inside, two men were arrested and a warrant was executed later that evening during which drugs, money, and weapons were seized.
Police displayed the seized items at the Balmoral Street headquarters on Thursday, which included $631,010 in cash, oxycodone pills, hydromorph pills, marijuana, and cocaine with an estimated street value of $125,000, and four loaded handguns and ammunition.
“This amount is not that common,” Harrison said. “I’m not saying it’s not out there, but us coming across it doesn’t happen all that often.”
Harrison said the kind of drugs seized are the most common illegal substances being sold in Thunder Bay. He was not able to say if any of the opioids seized contained fentanyl, but they have been sent to forensics sciences and Health Canada for testing.
“We know there are illicit labs out there that produce it to look like one thing, but it’s actually fentanyl or containing fentanyl, and that is another concern with us,” Harrison added. “People that are using these illicit substances do not know what they are taking.”
“They might think they are taking Percocet’s or oxycodone, but it’s actually fentanyl, which we know is very dangerous and we are seeing increased overdoses throughout the community and throughout the country.”
As a result of the seizure, police arrested Kalid Yousef, 26, of Edmonton, Alta. and 25-year-old Myles Puentes-Reed of Hamilton, Ont. Both men have been charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, four counts of careless storage of a firearm, four counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm, and possession of a prohibited weapon.
Harrison said police have not determined whether Yousef or Puentes-Reed are affiliated with any criminal organization or gang, but he added police are aware that gangs from southern Ontario are sending members to the area to sell drugs.
“Unfortunately, the market in Thunder Bay is very good for these people and that’s why they are coming in,” he said. “They come in and make a large profit from the citizens of Thunder Bay who are using these illegal substances and they ship it out. We are seeing that day in and day out almost.”
The weapons seized at the residence is also a cause for significant concern. Harrison said people use the weapons for intimidation, protection, and rivalry issues.
“We are seeing a lot of this violence coming out of southern Ontario and Toronto with guns and shootings,” he said. “We are concerned that it might come up to here.”
Harrison said the investigation is ongoing and police are looking into several other persons of interest, both locally and from out of town.
Police said if anyone has any information they can contact Thunder Bay Police at 684-1200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com.
The seizure from Ruttan Street is the largest one Harrison has seen in recent years, and while it is not common to find such a large quantity of drugs or money in one house, there are likely more.
“As for the exact number for something like this, we don’t know, and that is very concerning,” Harrison said. “This is one house, there are likely two or three.”
