SABLES-SPANISH RIVERS—The Manitoulin detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) seized over 25 kilograms of illicit drugs valued at $3.7 million dollars while investigating an impaired driver in Sables-Spanish Rivers township.
“Earlier today, my officers had an outstanding stop/operation,” stated Acting Inspector Detachment Commander Robert Walsh at a Manitoulin Community Police Advisory Committee (MPAC) meeting last week. “We have a suspect in custody. The street value of the drugs seized will have an immeasurable ripple effect. This is one of the largest drug busts I’ve ever seen, and we are thrilled to get the stop.”
The Manitoulin OPP detachment seized over 25 kilograms of illicit drugs. Shortly after 7 pm on Tuesday, May 9 officers with the Manitoulin OPP responded to a complaint of a damaged black pickup truck parked in a residential driveway on Highway 17. The complainant spoke to the driver and believed they were impaired.
Officers arrived at the scene, spoke to the driver and determined they had been consuming alcohol. The driver was arrested, and their truck was searched. Police seized approximately 25 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine and 15.2 grams of suspected cocaine. The value of the drugs is estimated to be $3.7 million dollars. With the support of the Greater Sudbury Police Service Canine Unit, police also seized $3,400 in Canadian currency, a weight scale, 39-millimetre rounds of ammunition, packaging materials and two cell phones.
As a result of the investigation, Trenton Johnson, 35, from Chestermere, Alberta was arrested and charged with: operation while impaired, alcohol and drugs, operation while impaired, blood alcohol concentration (80 plus), possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking; possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking; possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000; operate unsafe vehicle; drive motor vehicle with no license; operate motor vehicle without insurance, drive a motor vehicle with no permit and having care or control of a motor vehicle with an open container of liquor.
The accused was held for bail and appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice virtual bail court in Sudbury on May 10.
