WAHNAPITAE FN – NEWS – On September 18, 2019, members of the Anishinabek Police Service (APS), Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET) of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), and members of the Sudbury OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB), executed a search warrant at two illegal cannabis storefronts located on Loonway Road and Taighwanini Trail on the Wahnapitae First Nation, Ontario.
As a result of the investigation and search warrant executed on Loonway Road, the following persons were arrested and charged:
Amanda McGREGOR, 27 years of age, from Wahnapitae First Nation and Nathan PEACOCK, 28 years of age, from Lively, Ontario have been charged with:
- Possessing Cannabis for the Purpose of Selling, contrary to section 10(2) of the Cannabis Act (CA);
- Possession Cannabis for the Purpose of Distributing, contrary to section 9(2) of the CA; and
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime-Under $5000, contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code (CC).
Both parties were released on a Promise to Appear.
As a result of the investigation and search warrant executed on Taighwanini Trail, the owner, Derek ROQUE, 47 years of age, from Wahnapitae First Nation was arrested and charged with:
- Possessing Cannabis for the Purpose of Selling, contrary to section 10(2) of the CA;
- Possession Cannabis for the Purpose of Distributing, contrary to section 9(2) of the CA;
- Cultivate, Propagate or Harvest any Cannabis Plant at a Place that is not their Dwelling House, contrary to section 12(6)(a) of the CA;
- Fail to Comply with Recognizance, contrary to section 145(3) of the CC; and
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime-Over $5000, contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the CC.
The accused was released on a Recognizance of Bail on September 19, 2019 with a future court date.
The items seized included a substantial amount of suspected cannabis products such as plants, shatter and edibles. Police also seized Canadian currency.
The investigation is on-going.
The OPP enjoys a respectful working relationship with all of our First Nations policing partners. The OPP and its partners continue to work with communities and engage all stakeholders with respect to enforcement action on illegal cannabis storefronts.
The OPP is continuing to lead an enforcement strategy which includes other Ontario police services. This strategy will reflect actionable intelligence on illegal cannabis operations.
The focus of the strategy is to dismantle organized crime groups, eliminate the illegal cannabis supply, remove illegal cannabis enterprises such as storefronts and online, and target the proceeds of crime and assets.
Any person with information regarding these incidents should immediately contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122 or their nearest police authority.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit information online at www.sudburycrimestoppers.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2000.
