WIIKWEMKOONG – January 14, 2025 – The Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service (WTPS) has successfully executed two significant seizures this week, highlighting its steadfast commitment to proactive policing and addressing the critical issues of illegal drugs and firearms within the Wiikwemkoong community.
“In these two specific incidents, both of the individuals arrested are repeat offenders,” says Chief of Police, Ron Gignac. “As your police service, WTPS will continue to crackdown on recidivist crime, implement our comprehensive drug strategies and do everything that we can to prevent the flow of illegal narcotics and firearms from entering our territory.”
These successful operations are a result of WTPS officers conducting proactive community safety patrols and targeted enforcement activities around the clock. Community safety patrols are part of the force’s ongoing commitment to enhancing proactive policing measures around the trafficking and use of illicit drugs and in fulfillment of the force’s drug strategy aimed at improving community safety and security.
Incident Details:
- January 12th: During a proactive community safety patrol in the main village area at approximately 3:00 AM, WTPS officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle. The driver was identified as having an outstanding warrant. Upon arresting him, officers discovered illegal drugs on his person and further investigation led to finding larger quantities of drugs and illegal firearms in the vehicle. $230,000.00 in street valued suspected cocaine was seized along with other illegal narcotics.
- January 13th: WTPS officers observed a person wanted on an outstanding warrant attempting to flee during their community safety patrols. After apprehending the offender following a foot pursuit, they seized several quantities of suspected fentanyl along with a 357-magnum replica pellet revolver. The offender was arrested for new offenses and held for court appearance.
“I want to thank the officers and staff for their exceptional public safety focus here in Wiikwemkoong,” says Chief Gignac. “I also extend my gratitude to Chief Ominika, our band council members as well as community partner agencies supporting us. Specifically, to policing we recognize our combined forces public safety efforts. We are grateful for our steadfast relations and outstanding combined forces efforts that we have with the Ontario Provincial Police and the UCCM police service. We are all working towards tremendous community safety enhancements on Manitoulin Island and in Wiikwemkoong.”
